 |
Abomination of Desolation |
|
An event due to occur at the midpoint of the Tribulation, where the Antichrist sets himself up as God in the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem. It is then 3½ years until the return of Christ. See Daniel 9 and Matthew 24.
|
Abyss |
|
Deep pit, signifying the place of the dead. Prison for demons.
|
Adultery |
|
A man having sex with a married woman. A sin according to Mosaic law, and one of great seriousness.
|
Agnosticism |
|
A term to describe all those who are uncertain about their spiritual beliefs, and often have little
interest in pursuing the subject further.
|
Arianism |
|
The false theory that God could not possibly appear on earth in human form, and therefore Jesus could not be God, and as a result there could be no Trinity, but only God the Father. This was a heresy first appearing in the 4th century, and has intermittently continued to this day. Today, the Jehovah’s Witnesses subscribe to this belief.
|
Alpha and Omega |
|
First and last letters of the Greek alphabet Jesus applies this phrase to himself to signify that he was in control at the beginning as the Creator and is in control at the end as the Judge.
|
Animism |
|
The belief that everything in the universe has a soul.
|
Anthropic Principle |
|
The theory that the universe shows evidence it was designed specifically for the habitation of humans.
|
Amen |
|
A Hebrew word meaning ‘may it be so’ or a word of agreement in response to a statement. It was sometimes used by Jesus to emphasis what he was about to say.
|
Amillennialism |
|
The belief that there is no literal thousand year reign of Christ. This requires the taking of Revelation 20 symbolically rather than literally. Amillennialists tend to believe that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s affections.
|
Anoint |
|
The practice of anointing with oil was widespread among the Jews and signified being consecrated; the high priest was consecrated before he began service. Anointing was also a medical technique to heal wounds. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit when he was baptised Matthew 3:16, and has been referred to as the Anointed One.
|
Anti-semitism |
|
Anti-Jewish action or sentiment. The word meaning ‘against the Semites’. Semites were descended from Noah’s son, and therefore also include Arabic peoples also, although the social meaning of the word remains ‘anti-Jewish’.
|
Apostasy |
|
Often referred to as a ‘falling away’ (Hebrews 5:11), it is a desertion of biblical
principles by the Church. The Church has always had to fight onslaughts by false teachers.
So apostasy has been an inevitable part of Church history. However, apostasy of unheard of
dimensions is prophesied to happen shortly before the end times.
|
Apostle |
|
A messenger. A term generally used to designate the twelve disciples.
|
Archangel |
|
The boss angel (Jude 1:9).
|
Ark of the Covenant |
|
A wooden chest made to carry important relics for the Jews a jar of manna, the Ten Commandments on two stone tablets, and Aaron’s staff which budded. It was decorated with gold.
|
Armageddon |
|
The word originates from the Hebrew ‘Har Megiddo’ meaning ‘Mount of Megiddo’. The plain is the gathering place of a vast global army preparing for the final war of good and evil in which the whole world is pitted against Jesus and his believers. Jesus wins.
|
Ascension |
|
The removing of Jesus up into heaven to be with God the father. Look for accounts of this at the end of Luke and the beginning of Acts.
|
Atheism |
|
A total rejection of belief in God. Almost a religion in itself.
|
Atonement |
|
An engineered word; it is made from ‘at-one-ment’. It refers to the state of being at one with God, with nothing in the way.
|
 |
Baal |
|
A Semitic word meaning ‘Lord’ or ‘owner’ but also a name applied to various foreign gods. See Judges 2:11, including the main god of the Phoenicians.
|
Baptism |
|
An initiation ceremony. The admittance of a person into the Church. A public display of faith.
|
Blasphemy |
|
Speech that is derogatory to God. Taking God’s name and using it as an exclamation or a swearword is blasphemy.
|
 |
Calvary |
|
From the Latin ‘Calvaria’ meaning skull, due to the unique appearance of the rock, which resembles a skull. A place outside the city walls.
|
Canon |
|
Another word for the Bible, or Scripture. It comes from the Greek ‘kanon’ which means ‘reed’. A reed was used as a measuring unit, a standard of measurement. Therefore those writings in the canon were a standard, and could be relied on to be accurate. The canon of scripture consists of 39 books in the Old Testament (including books of law, history, prophecy and poetry)and 27 books in the New Testament (including the Gospels, letters, and prophecy).
|
Causality |
|
The theory of the relationship between the cause and effect.
|
Christ |
|
The Greek translation of ‘Messiah’ which means ‘Anointed One’.
|
Christian |
|
Possibly a derogatory term coined by enemies of the Church, but served to identify the believers, and the name stuck! It was first used at Antioch.
|
Church Age |
|
This began when the Church received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and will end when the Church is raptured from the earth before the Tribulation. This may be the reason why there is a gap between fulfilment of the first 69 weeks of Daniel, and the 70th (Daniel 9).
|
Commandments, The Ten |
|
Also known as the Decalogue. A brief synopsis of the moral law given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.
|
Communion |
|
Often referring to the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper. Also can mean time spent with God.
|
Concordance |
|
A natty little invention. It’s a book or the back part of a study Bible which contains an index of words in the
Bible and shows references of where they occur. An excellent tool for making links between different section and
enables you to cross-reference without having to memorise the whole thing.
|
Covenant |
|
An agreement between two parties and broken only by death.
|
Covetousness |
|
A desire for the possession of ‘stuff’.
|
Conversion |
|
The repentance of a person and their subsequent turning to God, caused by the Holy Spirit.
|
Creation |
|
The bringing into being of something from nothing. God is good at it.
|
Crucifixion |
|
A brutal form of the death penalty. Humliating and excruciatingly painful. Death can linger for days, and the victim often dies of suffocation. See How can we know Jesus was really dead?
|
Curse |
|
Divine prophetic pronouncement of misfortune. A curse is not a ‘spell’ but a forecast dominated by bad news.
|
 |
Day of Atonement |
|
See Yom Kippur.
|
Deacon |
|
From the Greek diaconos meaning runner or servant. This role was chiefly to carry out the ‘housekeeping’ of the Church – feeding widows and orphans and the like.
|
Deaconess |
|
Female deacon.
|
Devil |
|
From the Greek diabolos. The devil is bent on destroying anything that is of God. He is the lord of the demons.
|
Diaspora |
|
Also known as the Dispersion. The spreading of the Jews beyond their homeland, as a result of exile or persecution. The first such dispersion occurred in 722BC, the second was the Babylonian exile of 597 and 587BC, which created a Diaspora community (like an expat community, only less fun). Since Jerusalem was sacked in 70AD, there have been many Jews living in Diaspora rather than Israel.
|
Disciple |
|
A term only found in the Gospels and Acts, used to describe the followers of Jesus, and in particular the Twelve. It is also used today to describe an obedient and trustworthy follower of Christ.
|
Dispensationalism |
|
The perception that God works through well-defined time slots where God reveals his purpose and people can choose to respond or not.
|
Dispersion |
|
See Diaspora.
|
Divination |
|
Seeking to foretell the future or other hidden knowledge. Outlawed by God.
|
Dragon |
|
A name symbolising the devil.
|
 |
Eastern Gate |
|
A gate on the Temple Mount that is currently blocked, and was blocked centuries ago by muslims trying to prevent the Jews’ messiah from entering. Ezekiel prophesies that the Messiah (Jesus) will be the one to open it Ezekiel 44.
|
Eden |
|
Where Adam and Eve lived. Its exact location is unknown as no trace remains (it was wiped out during the flood in Genesis 6), although quite possibly it could be sited in Iraq.
|
Edom |
|
Refers to Esau, and his descendants. The area surrounding and containing Petra.
|
End Times |
|
A time to come which encompasses the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Second Coming of
Jesus and the battle of Armageddon, ending with the Millennium.
|
Epistle |
|
A kind of letter. Paul was good at writing them. Some (I and II Timothy and Philemon, for example)
were written for individual Christians, while others were written to particular churches; for example
Philippians was written for the Church at Philippi. Such letters would have been read out to the congregation.
These letters were written for different reasons; for general information, for encouragements, for instruction or
rebuke, for requests for prayer and to maintain contact between the apostles and the Church.
|
Epistles |
|
Apostolic letters. There are 21 of them in the New Testament and were addressed either to particular church leaders, or to the believers as a circular letter.
|
Essences |
|
A group prevalent in the inter-testamental period and later, distinguished by their strict adherence to the Law and often lived in secluded communities, such as the one at Qumran which wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls.
|
Eternal Death |
|
The fate of all whose sins is not covered by the blood of Christ, and therefore remain unforgiven. Eternal meaning beyond time.
|
Eternal Life |
|
The future all children of God have to look forward to. An endless life spent with God.
|
Eschatology |
|
The study of End Times theology, often concentrating on the prophecies of John in Revelation, Daniel, Isaiah and Ezekiel.
|
Eunuch |
|
A castrated male. Royal officials were often eunuchs. Eunuchs were valued servants as their loyalty was considered more pure since they had no family to consider – loyalty was more likely to be uninfluenced by outside interests.
|
Evangelist |
|
Itinerant preachers who travelled around spreading the word of God, and the news that everyone who chooses to can be saved. Not a leader, with charge over a group of believers, but a person whose primary role is to teach what is required to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The four gospel writers were evangelists.
|
Exorcism |
|
The expulsion of a demon from a person. There are many examples of this in the gospels, also Jesus said his followers would be able to do likewise as the Holy Spirit lived in them.
|
Expiation |
|
This occurs when the punishment we deserve falls on another (scapegoat) and we are therefore free of punishment as our sin has been ‘covered’.
|
 |
Faith |
|
The confidence that something is true. It does not have to be blind, and it is often strengthened when tested. It is the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
|
Fall |
|
(of Man) The sin and subsequent expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, and the effect sin has on the human race. The result that humans now need Jesus’ sacrifice in order to gain a relationship with God.
|
False Church |
|
Something with the appearance of the Church, but with teachings in opposition with biblical truth. During the Tribulation the False Church will probably amalgamate several world religions in order to pander to all people and ultimately bring them under the control of the False Prophet and the Antichrist. See Revelation 17.
|
Flesh |
|
Apart from its obvious everyday meaning of soft tissue, it is also used biblically to signify the human race, animal race, and the fallibility of humans. We’re tempted to sin by the world, the devil and also the flesh.
|
Forerunner |
|
John the Baptist. He went before Jesus, preparing them for his ministry.
|
Forgiveness of Sin |
|
An essential component of justification. All sins a re forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus as expiation for our sins.
|
Fornication |
|
A married man having sex with an unmarried woman.
|
Frankincense |
|
An aromatic resin from Boswellia trees. It was used in Israel to make incense. Incense of a particular type was used by priests to make offerings to God.
|
 |
Gentiles |
|
A term used by Jews to describe people who are not Jews.
|
Gehenna |
|
Deep valley south of Jerusalem where historically Jewish people sacrificed their children to the god Molech (II Chronicles 28:3). After such sin, the valley became permanently linked with such practice, and dead bodies of people and animals were thrown here, and were cremated. It therefore symbolises hell, where destruction is eternal. Often when we find ‘hell’ in the Bible, in the original text it was rendered ‘Gehenna’.
|
Gethsemane |
|
The name of a garden on the Mount of Olives where Jesus often went with his disciples to escape the crowds. It was here also that he prayed and sweated drops of blood (Luke 22:44).
|
God |
|
The name of the Creator Being. There is no argument for the existence of God in the Bible – it is a given. ‘Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God”’, Psalm 14:1.
|
Godhead |
|
The nature of God.
|
Godliness |
|
The practice of assimilating oneself into the character of God.
|
Gog and Magog |
|
Gog is the leader of a people called Magog. An enemy from the north. It is considered by many to be an area in or around northern Turkey or southern Russia.
|
Golgotha |
|
From the Hebrew ‘Gulgoleth’ meaning ‘the place of the skull’. See Calvary.
|
Gospel |
|
An anglo-saxon word meaning God’s spell, meaning good news. They are writings containing the life, actions and sayings of Jesus.
|
Grace |
|
An undeserved gift of a relationship with God. There is nothing we have done, or can do to deserve such a gift; but God, through his love, chooses to bestow it on us.
|
Great White Throne Judgment |
|
See Judgment
|
 |
Hades |
|
A Greek word meaning the place of the dead or the grave.
|
Hallelujah |
|
Hebrew for Praise the Lord. Greek form: Alleluia.
|
Hall of Hewn Stones |
|
The building the Sanhedrin used to meet in. It was connected to the Temple.
|
Heart |
|
The centre of the human being – the origin of spirituality. Interchangeable with soul. The heart is where the conscience is situated. The nature of the heart is wickedness and therefore a change of heart is required to secure repentance and salvation.
|
Heaven |
|
The eternal home of those who have a relationship with God.
|
Hebrews |
|
Referring to the Israelites, often before they reached the Promised Land, to differentiate them from the surrounding people.
|
Hell |
|
Also rendered Gehenna, Hades and Sheol. The place prepared for the devil and his demons. The destination of anyone who doesn’t want eternal life with God.
|
Heptad |
|
Literally a seven. The heptad is featured in the book of Daniel, and is replaced in some translations as ‘sevens’.
In Daniel, the heptad is worth 7 years. The terms ‘the last heptad’ refers to the Tribulation, the last 7years of
prophecy to be fulfilled.
|
High Place |
|
A hill or other raised plateau used for worship and sacrifice to gods. Moses instructed the Hebrews on entering the Promised Land, to destroy all such places of worship and to worship God only at the site he designated. This was to help them avoid the sin of Idolatry.
|
Historicism |
|
This theory converts prophetic days into years. Historicists view the pope as the Antichrist, and this is the view held by many cults such as mormons, Jehovah’s witnesses and 7th day Adventists.
|
Holiness |
|
Belonging to God. Being of God. This is something that increases with time and is a result of praying, meditating and reading the Bible.
|
Holy of Holies |
|
The innermost part o the Temple. No one was allowed to enter except the High Priest, and even he was only allowed to enter once a year. It was the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.
|
Holy Place |
|
This was the part of the Temple that contained the incense altar and the gold candlestick. It was separated form the Holy of Holies by a veil, (this is the curtain that was torn in Matthew 27: 51).
|
Hope |
|
Similar to trust and faith. The certain knowledge the Christian has. Christ is the object of this hope.
|
Hosanna |
|
Hebrew for Save Now! This was an exclamation often used during the feast of Tabernacles.
|
Host of Heaven |
|
The sun, moon and stars. Sky furniture. The Hebrews fell into sin when they started worshipping them. Acts 7:42.
|
Hypocrite |
|
One who tries to appear as something he is not. It also stands for those who are polluted by their sins.
|
 |
Idolatry |
|
(link with book: Jeremiah) the worshipping of anything that is not God. This is outlawed by God in the first two of the Ten Commandments.
Idolatry during biblical times tended to involve the worshipping of ‘idols’ – statues supposedly depicting a ‘god’,
which were made of metal, stone, wood or clay. Today the idolatry takes the form of allowing something to take the
place of God; perhaps sex, money, materialism, status symbols, careers, gambling, addiction, even relationships.
|
Incarnation |
|
When Christ took on human flesh and became at once fully God and fully man. Galatians 4:4.
|
Intercession of Christ |
|
Christ’s sacrifice of himself for the sins of the world; and also his repeated prayers for us, and on our behalf to God the Father. His role as a High Priest, Hebrews 2:17.
|
Intercession of the Spirit |
|
The work of the Holy Spirit in us to effect a change in heart.
|
 |
Jacob’s Trouble |
|
From Jeremiah 30:7 but also referred to by other writers by different terms. Daniels refers to the same period as the 70th week. This is the time of the Tribulation.
|
Jew |
|
The name given to descendants of the patriarch Judah and Benjamin, as opposed to those referred to as Israel, who are the remaining 10 tribes who revolted from the leadership of Rehoboam and set up a separate kingdom away from Jerusalem. This term was later applied to all descendants of the 12 tribes.
|
Judgment |
|
The judgment of the unsaved people. If people are found not to have their names written in the Book of Life, they will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
|
Judgment Seat of Christ |
|
The judgment Christians will face after the Rapture according to the work they did (or didn’t) on earth for Jesus.
|
Justification |
|
The pardoning of sins by God, in response to the sacrificial death of Jesus. People justified by faith are deemed righteous in God’s eye. The law has been fulfilled by Jesus, so is not void, but rather transferred.
|
 |
Kingdom of God |
|
(Matthew 6:33) Also referred to as the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 3:2 ), the Kingdom (Matthew 8:12), the Kingdom of Christ (Matthew 13:41), the Kingdom of David (Mark 11:10) and the Kingdom of Christ and of God (Ephesians 5:5). This means the rule of Christ on earth, and the blessings that flow to his people from this rule. It can also mean the Church.
|
Kinsman |
|
The nearest blood relative a person had that was still alive and able to redeem property for that person. The kinsman had a duty to look out for his next of kin, and buy them back, if they were sold into slavery, or were in debt.
|
 |
Lake of Fire |
|
The final destination for the lost; although it was initially designed for the devil and his demons.
|
Law |
|
A rule. There are laws of nature (Romans 2:14-15), moral laws (Exodus 20), and ceremonial and ritual laws (Hebrews 7:9-11).
|
Law of Moses |
|
The laws found in the books of the Pentateuch.
|
Leaven |
|
Rising agent added to bread. The remnant of dough that was left over and went bad. Leaven came to be regarded as symbolic of corruption and evil.
|
Lent |
|
Traditionally, Lent is the period starting on Ash Wednesday and ending the day before Easter Sunday. It is the time before Easter traditionally used to instruct people ready for baptism, which popularly took place at Easter. It is 40 days long to correspond with Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness. In practice it is 47 days long. If you’ve ever given anything up for Lent, you’ve short-changed yourself unless you discounted 7 days! The practice of giving something up for Lent is a Roman Catholic practice, do it if you fancy it, but it is by no means mandatory. There is no biblical basis for this at all. It has been commented that the practice of giving something up for Lent is rather negative and gives a false impression of the relationship with God, and makes something wonderful sound really rather dull and legalistic. Therefore, next time, instead of giving up chocolate, why not decide to do something positive, like give more to charity? Read your bible more? Or perhaps be a brownie guide for Lent and do a ‘good turn’ every day?!
|
Little Horn |
|
From the book of Daniel (7:7-8; 7:19-25). It signifies the rising up of the Antichrist from among 10 rulers. This also matches what John has to say about the Antichrist in Revelation 13.
|
Lord’s Day |
|
The first day of the week. The Christian Sabbath. Referred to in Revelation 1:10.
|
Lord’s Prayer |
|
The name given to the set of instructions Jesus gave his disciples in Matthew 6:9-13 when they asked him how they should pray.
|
Lord’s Supper |
|
Also called communion, breaking of bread> (Acts 2:42) and Holy Eucharist. It is performed to remember Jesus’ sacrifice, and the reasons why we need it. It also serves to bring the Church together as they share the bread and wine.
|
Lucifer |
|
Literally Brilliant star. This was the name given to the king of Babylon in Isaiah 14:12, but it also used to refer to the devil before his fall.
|
 |
Magi |
|
The kings/wise men who followed the star to Bethlehem to see Jesus. Only mentioned in Matthew.
|
Manna |
|
Hebrew for ‘What is it?’ The bread that came down from the Heaven for the hungry Israelites while in the wilderness.
|
Maranatha |
|
Hebrew for ‘Come Lord’ or ‘Our Lord is Coming’. A popular greeting in the early Church.
|
Mark of the Beast |
|
An identifying mark whereby the possessor will be able to buy and sell freely, although they have signed their lives over to the Antichrist forever. The mark will most likely be a type of microchip or computer readable tattoo ink. See Revelation 13:16-18.
|
Marriage Feasts |
|
Lasting for a whole week. Much food, much entertainment, and probably much wine too.
|
Martyr |
|
One who dies because of Christ. Stephen was the first martyr in Acts 22.
|
Mediator |
|
One who attempts to reconcile two parties Christ is the only mediator between God and man (John 14:6).
|
Meekness |
|
The strength of a wild horse tamed and willing to submit. The meek are powerful, but their strength is harnessed for good, not evil.
|
Mercy |
|
Compassion. Christ had compassion on man by dying for us. Mercy is also a Christian virtue.
|
Mercy Seat |
|
The cover of the Ark of the Covenant.
|
Messiah |
|
Anointed One
|
Millennium |
|
(link with book: Ezekiel) A period of 1000 years where Jesus will come to earth and rule from Jerusalem (Revelation 20).
|
Mount of Olives |
|
The location of the Garden of Gethsemane, in view of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Zechariah 14:4 says when Jesus returns he will stand on the Mount of Olives, and will enter Jerusalem from there.
|
Myrrh |
|
Resin from the Commiphora myrrha tree. Myrrh was used as a cosmetic, as a pain killer and for anointing the dead.
|
Mystery |
|
A previously concealed secret made known through God’s revelation – in other words an ‘open secret’.
|
 |
Nazirite |
|
A person dedicated to special service to God. The period of dedication could last a lifetime or for a limited spell. While consecrated to God, he must not cut his hair, or drink alcohol. Both Samson and Samuel were nazirites.
|
Necromancy |
|
Conjuring up spirits of the dead in order to tell the future or influence events Deuteronomy 18:11. Saul did this in I Samuel 28.
|
Nephilim |
|
The name of tribes of giants or mighty men. Genesis 6:4.
|
Number symbolism |
Symbolic significance of numbers:
- 1 = completeness, uniqueness
- 2 = smallest number of witnesses required for a fair trial
- 4 = the number of creation – four compass directions, four seasons, four types of animals (humans, domestic animals, wild animals, animals of the sky and sea), four horsemen of the apocalypse, four Gospels.
- 5 = a handful
- 6 = Incompleteness. 6 days of creation were not completed until the 7th had come (Sabbath)
- 7 = completeness and perfection
- 12 = completeness and perfection
- 40 = strictly limited period of time
- 70 = a comprehensive number, a lot. Not always literal.
|
 |
Olives, Mount of |
|
Mount of Olives.
|
Omega |
|
See Alpha and Omega.
|
 |
Parable |
|
A story or analogy. Jesus used many parables; sometimes to make a point clearer, and sometimes to shield the meaning from those who weren’t really interested in finding out.
|
Paradise |
|
A Persian word meaning ‘park’. It came to signify the place of rest and happiness, heaven.
|
Passover |
|
The most important festival in the Jewish calendar, it takes the form of a meal and celebrates the rescue of the
Hebrews (Jews) out of Egypt. It is called Passover because during the last Egyptian plague (the death of every first
born son) the destroying angel passed over the houses of all the Hebrews who had obeyed God’s instructions. Read about
it in Exodus chapter 12.
|
Pentateuch |
|
The first of five books of the Bible; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Commonly held to be
written by Moses (although edited by others). These five books consist of the laws, and referred to by the Jews
as the Torah.
|
Pentecost |
|
The Feast of the Harvest in Exodus 23:16 and Leviticus 23: 15-19. It is also referred to as the day of the firstfruits Numbers 28:26. It is the 50th day after Passover. Within the Church it is the celebration of the receiving of the Holy Spirit by the Church.
|
Pharisees |
|
A party of devout Jews who formed in response to apostasy in Israel. By the time Jesus was born, the Pharisees
were an integral part of Jewish life. Pharisees were the ultimate authority on the law, and because of their
keenness for legality and obedience, they imposed loads of supplementary rules on people to ensure they did not
break God’s laws. Although the motive for phariseeism was pure and good, in time it became legalistic and distant
from the relationship with God it was intended to protect. As with many religious movements before and since, it
was set up to fight the established religiosity, but in time developed a religiosity of its own.
|
Plague |
|
A disease. Sent by God as a judgment, see Exodus 9:14.
|
Postmillennialism |
|
As well as amillennialism, this view believes the millennium is not a literal 1,000 years, but is the age between the first and second comings of Jesus Christ. Postmillennialists have been accused of being idealistic as they believe the Church will evangelise the world, therefore preparing the world for Christ’s return. This view was the most fashionable theory during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; possibly accounting for the huge numbers of missionaries going to all quarters of the globe. This idealistic view prevailed in an idealistic time; the industrial revolution was in full swing and the British Empire at its peak. This idealism was all to come crashing down after first one world war and then another, and then the break-up of the British Empire. Like the idealism, this view has never regained its popularity as wars, disasters and genocides right through the twentieth century have rendered such ideas naïve.
Postmillennialists believe Jesus’ reign to be spiritual, and not a literal, physical reign. The millennium is said to approach gradually as Christianity spreads.
Postmillennialists therefore see humans achieving a gradual improvement in global conditions as the world becomes Christianised. Jesus will then return, all people will be resurrected and judged and then people will spend eternity at their chosen destinations.
|
Prayer |
|
Communion with God. Direct conversation with God.
|
Predestination |
|
God’s foreknowledge of character and outcomes of events.
|
Premillennialism |
|
The belief that the Tribulation period precedes the Millennium.
This is the theory which takes literally what the Bible says without trying to spiritualise it. In this view, the millennial kingdom is a physical kingdom on earth, ruled by Jesus from Jerusalem. This was the view of the early church, including Justin Martyr, Polycarp and Barnabus. This view made a resurgence in the nineteenth century after being eclipsed by amillennialism from the 3rd century. This view is gaining popularity today. Premillennialism teaches that Jesus will return before the millennial kingdom, he will return after the end of a literal seven year Tribulation.
According to this view, Jesus will bind Satan for the duration of the millennial kingdom, and the Earth will experience peace and joy not experienced since the Garden of Eden. Although to some extent the premillennialists agree with amillennialism in that Jesus reigns in the hearts of believers, premillennialists believe there is more to come and that there will be a literal time of Jesus reigning physically from Jerusalem with Jews restored to a peaceful Israel. Premillennialists believe that there will be apostasy in the church, then the rapture will occur (some premillennialists however reject the pretribulation view) ushering in a literal 7 year Tribulation. At the end of the Tribulation Christ will return and fight against the Antichrist and his global forces at Armageddon. Satan will be bound and the Millennium will begin. This is followed by judgment, a creation of a new heaven and a new earth and eternity.
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Preterism |
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The theory that most prophetic events have already been fulfilled. Many preterists believe most prophecy to have been fulfilled by AD70 with the sacking of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple.
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Prophecy |
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A forecast of what is to happen, and also pronouncements on the human state. Look at the Prophecy section in Questions you were too shy to ask.
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Prophet |
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One who prophesies. A true prophet of God was always 100% accurate.
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Providence |
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Foresight. God’s control of the world, and using different means to work his purpose.
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Queen of Heaven |
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The moon. Special cakes were baked in honour of the Queen of Heaven.
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Rapture |
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An unknown day when Jesus will call his followers (both alive and dead) up to heaven to be with him. Christ will then spend 7 years in heaven with his Bride before returning at the end of the Tribulation. This is not mentioned in the Old Testament because it is a prophecy purely for the Church to fulfil the Church Age thus reverting God’s attention back to Israel.
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Reconciliation |
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The transition from enmity to amity. Jesus’ sacrificial death has the power to reconcile us to God, this is one of his roles as Mediator.
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Redeemer |
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One who acts on behalf of another to work in his best interests and restoring his rights.
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Redemption |
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The payment of a ransom to regain something. The biggest ransom ever paid was Jesus’ death.
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Red Heifer |
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A sacrificial animal needed to cleanse the area of the Temple Mount to make it suitable for worship. Read Numbers 19.
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Red Letter Bible |
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A Bible with Jesus’ words printed in red.
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Regeneration |
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Renewal and rebirth. Being born again (John 3:5).
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Reincarnation |
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Belief in reincarnation is the belief that after death, the sol will be reborn in another earthly creature.
Hinduism subscribes to this view.
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Repentance |
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The turning away from sin and turning towards God. It involves complete regret for sins (or a particular sin)
and a deep desire to change. It is a reliance on God to give strength and courage to change and a commitment to a
relationship with God.
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Restrainer |
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The: The presence of the Holy Spirit in the world (within the Church). This is the restraining influence that prevents the revelation of the Antichrist. Once the Restrainer is removed (during the Rapture when the entire Church is removed from the earth) the Antichrist will be revealed and the Tribulation will begin (Matthew 5:13 and II Thessalonians 2:7).
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Ressurrection Bodies |
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Physical bodies given at the resurrection. These bodies are immortal. Jesus’ resurrection body is not bound by time and place
(see Luke 24:13-49 to see how fast he moves).
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Resurrection of Christ |
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The historical fact that the Christian faith depends on. Without this, there would be no Christianity.
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Resurrection of the Dead |
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All people will be resurrected. Each will receive a body.
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Revelation |
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Literally ‘unveiling’ that which was previously concealed. A deliberate showing of God’s plans.
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Rock |
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A symbol use to denote the character of God (I Samuel 2:2, Isaiah 17:10, Psalm 31:2-3).
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Rosh Hashanah |
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Jewish festival of the New Year.
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Sabbath |
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The day of rest. Instituted in Exodus 20 to celebrate the rest God took from creation on the 7th day. Christians moved their Sabbath to Sunday, the first day of the week, to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
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Sabbath Day’s Journey |
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About half a mile, deemed to be an acceptable distance to travel without it becoming ‘work’ (forbidden on the Sabbath).
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Sabbatical Year |
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Every seventh year the land was to lie fallow, and the produce of the land was for the poor and for animals. All debts in this year were written off, and everyone started again with a clean slate. It wasn’t a popular idea, and it was never bothered with.
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Sacrifice |
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The practice of giving up something especially God. This was a token – the sacrificial objects themselves had no worth, but they were symbolic of more. Sacrifices in the Old Testament were a precursor for the ultimate sacrifice of all time, Jesus’ death for the sins of the entire human race.
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Sadducees |
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Adversaries of the Pharisees, they are famous for rejecting belief in the resurrection of the dead and in angels Acts 23:8. They believed that as long as they adhered to the law and were faithful to God, they would be rewarded for this in this life, rejecting the concept of an afterlife.
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Saints |
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A term used to believers. You do not need to be dead (or well in with the Roman Catholic church);
all people who are Christians are described in the Bible as saints.
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Salvation |
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The deliverance of God’s people, either from earthly enemies as in Exodus 14, or from sin, as in the effect of Jesus death providing us with a get-out clause to get a relationship with God and a place in heaven with him forever.
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Sin |
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Derived from an archery term to describe ‘not hitting the mark’. It is sin which separates us from a fulfilling
relationship with God. Sin can be active (doing something against the will of God, such as lying) or passive
(not doing something which is the will of God – for example, choosing not to help someone). Therefore, sin
is not doing the will of God.
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Tribulation |
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A 7 year period of judgment for the world, and in particular, Israel, which precedes Armageddon.
Daniel 9:24-27 describes 490 years in which all prophecy will b fulfilled. According to premillennialists,
483 years until the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus have already taken place, and the last 7 years (heptad)
remains to be fulfilled when the Church Age is finished, and God turns back his attention to the salvation of the
Jews for the last 7 years of the world as we know it. The prophecy in Daniel has parallels with prophecy in revelation
which describes judgments to take place, and the arrival, rule and demise of the Antichrist.
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Tribulation Saints |
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People who become Christians during the Tribulation, who have therefore missed the Rapture.
These are the prime target of the Antichrist.
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Uncial |
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Characters of upper case used on many Greek manuscripts.
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Unitarianism |
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Faulty theology which denies the trinity, the deity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This view also tends to hold to the theory of the universal redemption of man, which likewise is unbiblical.
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Universalism |
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The theory that all people will be saved through Jesus whether they believe in Jesus or not; some universalists even go as far as saying the Devil also will eventually redeemed by Jesus.
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Urim and Thummim |
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Although the meaning is not certain, these objects seem to have been used for sacred lots, and were kept in the breastpiece of the High Priest’s garments.
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Vellum |
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A material used for writing on. It was made usually from the skins of cattle and goats. This material was superior to papyrus, as it lasted longer.
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Venial Sin |
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A kind of ‘demi-sin’, a sin not as bad as a mortal sin – a principle only found in Catholicism.
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Vicarious Atonement |
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The theory that Christ’s death was legal according to God, and therefore satisfied the justice of God. Jesus’ death was a punishment endured by Jesus instead of those who believe in him.
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Vine |
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An important product of Israel and the surrounding area. It is a common feature in scripture. The Church is likened to a vine, and Jesus also says ‘I am the vine’ (John 15:1). Israel too is likened to Israel.
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Virgin |
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A young woman or a woman who has never slept with a man. The Messiah’s mother was prophesied to be a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), and Israel was likened to a virgin (Jeremiah 18:13).
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Vulgate |
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A translation of the Bible into Latin by Jerome. It took 20 years to complete and was intended as a definitive translation to replace previous unreliable versions.
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Walls |
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Settlements in biblical times were surrounded by walls for protection. There is a prophecy of Israel being like an unwalled village in Ezekiel 38:11 when they are attacked by the enemy from the north in the future.
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Way, The |
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Luke used this phrase in Acts to identify the Christian movement. The Essene way of life was also named ‘The Way’ (Qumran – Dead Sea Scrolls). John also referred to Jesus as ‘the way, the truth and the life’ John 14:6.
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Wisdom |
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Wisdom can be earthly or divine. Wisdom is based on a relationship with God; any wisdom based on anything else is foolishness. Wisdom is something that can be asked for (James 1:5) as it is a gift from God.
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Wise |
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See Wisdom.
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Word, The |
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Often used of Jesus, and of the Bible.
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Worship |
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The practice of enjoying God, and thanking him for for what he has done. Worship is to be reserved only for God (Matthew 4:10).
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Wrath |
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Judgment of God on those who sin. Although God is a God of love, part of love is justice, and because of this justice, sins must be punished. As God is patient, often wrath is suspended; there are prophets in the Old Testament who prophesied great times of wrath which have not yet occurred for precisely this reason. The wrath in question will be held off until the end times, before Jesus returns.
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Wrath of God, The |
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This is a definitive point in the period called the Tribulation, leading up to the return of Christ. People will harden their hearts against God, and refuse to turn from their evil ways. Therefore God’s wrath will fall on them (Revelation 14:9-11).
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Yahweh |
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The name of God.
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Yom Kippur |
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Day of Atonement. The most sombre occasion of the Jewish calendar. This was the day in the year that God atoned for Israel’s sins.
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Zealots |
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Revolutionaries starting to be known at the time of Jesus and later. Zealots were as patriotic as the Pharisees;
but whereas the Pharisees were chiefly concerned with spiritual and religious matters, the Zealots were more
concerned with political liberation (from the Roman Empire). One of Jesus’ disciples was known as Simon the Zealot.
Perhaps he was most interested in following Jesus because he thought Jesus would free the Jews from Roman oppression.
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Zion |
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Another name for Jerusalem.
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Zionism |
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A movement for the establishment of a homeland for the Jews and a promotion of the interests of the Jews as God’s people.
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