Prophecy Episodes

This podcast follows the character in a Short Story - The Sure Mercies by Greg Newell. That story is a modern dramatic version of the same argument Paul gave in the synagogue in Athens. These are the scriptural basis for that short story. Additional notes are also provided for this Podcast. The argument Paul Adler makes in this story is not invented. It is derived entirely from the Hebrew scriptures. The reader is encouraged to read those scriptures first, on their own terms, before reading an...

As our Red-Letter journey closes in on the Crucifixion, we decided to pull back. Every day this week, we are acting as a News Reporter traveling with Jesus and the disciples. The notes are written like a News Story from the Jerusalem Chronicle. The News Story is provided in the notes. Related Podcasts. Accusing Mary https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/accusing-mary/ Palms and Psalms https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/palms-and-psalms/ The Passover Lamb Laments https://www.rab...

This was a tough podcast to study for. The journey to Calvary is depicted in all four gospels, and each provides detail that paints a grueling picture of suffering. What you immediately notice about Jesus is not the agony of his suffering but his outreach and concern for the men doing this - and for His Mother. There is mockery from everywhere, even from the criminals beside him. When you bear the weight of this scene and see what Jesus is doing for all of those lining the path to see Him crucif...

As I was reading the account of Pilate's interaction with Jesus, it dawned on me how familiar it was. We often read the account in isolation, and I decided to dig deeper and consider its implications across the span of history. We've said it time and again through our podcasts. God is orchestrating this. Essay - The Evil That Men Do Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/e/the-evil-that-men-do/

Jesus said I have told you these things now so that when they happen, you will remember and believe. He did not say I'm telling you these things as a warning so that you can predict the next thing in the news cycle. Have we flipped prophecy on its face and reversed its meaning? I think it's worth reflecting for a second on current world events and prophecy, but not the way you might think. To many people from the pulpit have inverted prophecy like the tail wagging the dog - using world events t...

We hear Jesus last words to the eleven before the cross, and Jesus answers the question the disciples are too distraught to ask. For many Christians, even today, the Cross is a mystery that it doesn't need to be. Jesus spells it out. It is proven and acted upon. Today, we go deep into John 16:1-11, asking the questions that Jesus knew were on the disciples' minds, even if they could not see clearly through their tears. Notes for Why Jesus Had To Go Episode Link:

Just so you know, we are not going to stop doing our Red-Letter Journey. However, we are adding a 2nd series today comparing current world events with biblical prophecy. What will become extremely useful in this endeavor is applying our Berean Filter application to current events and how they can be interpreted with respect to Biblical prophecy. We are completely open to suggestions regarding who you think provides good, sound biblical interpretation. Today, we focus on Jack Hibbs' recent dis...

This is one short passage in each of the three synoptic Gospels; however, I would be remiss if I jumped over it. Let's remember that Jesus has made the disciples well aware of what was about to transpire this week. They can connect with his death, but I doubt they understand His resurrection. So, with such a shadow hanging over the forthcoming week, Jesus raises a cup and basically says: "Until we meet again". They are probably thinking that future time will be within their lifetime. They're n...

If somebody tells you something that will happen 10 years from now, you're likely to forget it. If somebody tells you something that will happen 10 minutes from now AND it happens exactly the way they said it would, you're likely to never forget it. If that same person has told you stuff about the future, now you're actually looking for it. Notes for Something Happened on the Way to Supper Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/something-happened-on-the-way-to-supper/

As we leave Matthew 24, we leave with a warning. I'm multitasking right now in front of a YouTube video by John Barnett. If you're not familiar, he spends every waking moment in his online ministry discussing End Times. And he is REALLY GOOD at it though admittedly; I waver on dispensational theology and pretribulation rapture stuff. That said, that is is an interpretation no false prophecy and we as Christians should know the difference and not throw the baby out with the bathwater. John's teac...

There are a LOT of books written about Matthew Chapter 24. This podcast is NOT the last word on the subject. It is a perspective, and we think one worth noting. Look, the discussion of End Times sells books! It gets clicks. But the question to ask is how it will change your perspective today. I think the beauty of prophecy is in the not knowing. It draws you to the text. It is human nature to want to know. But if Jesus had said His return happens Easter Sunday in the year 2253 (or whatever, pic...

Everyone is always looking for the major everts in prophetic literature. We've talked about prophetic compression before - the concept of two prophetic events that are spread out over time but stated very close together in biblical prophecy. When looking far into the future, you can see the peaks of the mountains, but you can't necessarily tell how far apart they are. [there are several examples within the source to draw from]. Today, we wanted to address prophetic compression from a differen...

On our Red-Letter journey, we just stepped onto the ground of Matthew 24. This is where many modern wannabe prophets will hang their hat and create grandiose predictions about raptures and end times and date setting and all that. Spoiler alert, we are not trying to figure out when the end of the world will come. I think about this when people ask me why I don't want to go there. First, I can't deny that I have gone that. I have. But I think about this as a reason why I don't. I used to work in ...

After Jesus laments over Jerusalem, the disciples are marveling at the temple. We have two verses of scripture in Matthew 24 (verses 1-2) that somehow still find their way into prophecies yet to be fulfilled. The Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70AD is about as brutal as judgement gets and still this part of the Bible has been misinterpreted by many to be something yet to happen. We don't make that mistake. I don't think there's any question. The source presents the prophecy and the history and ...

I don't know how I would have felt as a Jew in the audience on the temple court when Jesus was giving those scathing indictments to the Pharisees that we've been covering. But it got me to thinking about our Christian - Jewish relationships today. Israel and the United States have been solid political allies for sure. But that's politics! Typically, even our own church leaders don't go much beyond the political support and as long as you can proudly say "I stand with Israel", you are on solid gr...

Ok, if you want to know why we call this Podcast Rabbit Holes, you're about to follow how my brain works! I started today covering the last three woes and that ends in another lament by Jesus over Jerusalem. That got me wondering about the judgement that fell in AD 70. Then I thought, well, I don't really know what happened to the Jews after that. I know somehow, they survived, but how? So I followed that track all the way to 1948 where the Israel becomes a nation state. Then I think, ok, so why...

We've heard the Parable of the Great Banquet or Wedding Banquet probably a lot in our bible studies. Both Matthew and Luke tell the story and both help ground the meaning. In our Red-Letter journey, we find this parable told by Jesus early on Tuesday morning in Passion Week. Luke's version is the same parable told at an earlier event.... which is one of the reasons we've seen this story before. I came into this passage reflecting on that wedding feast we are all going to attend after the return...

If you've ever watch one of those timelapse videos that show you the construction of a building, that is what it must be like to see inside of the brain of the Messiah. He sees everything historically, as it is laid out and He sees it all at once. We come upon a scene in Luke 19:41-44. Jesus is looking out at the city of Jerusalem and weeps. We need to fully understand the weight of that emotion and to do that, we went back and slowed down the events that rush past this moment. Let's us ...

All four gospels cover the amazing entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. This is such a beautiful story of quiet triumph (maybe not so quiet.). We are also starting to see timelines and dates as they playout in scripture. The echoes of the original Passover are starting to play out. The Psalms are announcing the arrival of the king. Zechariah is shouting from the rooftops: "Behold, your king is coming to you!" The lamb is selected for the Passover feast and will go through 4 days of observation to ...

Jesus didn't have a GPS, he had something better. He had ancient prophecy. And at this point in the journey, Jesus is the only one who can see the destination. The other disciples are blind and fearful. They are marching right where they think they ought not be traveling. Notes for Marching on the Roadmap Through Prophecy Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/marching-on-the-roadmap-through-prophecy/

We approach one of the clearest passages in the gospels regarding Jesus and his mission. As they seek shelter in a Samaritan village on the way to Jerusalem, they are denied. The overzealous James and John want to rain down hellfire onto the village. If you have ever considered your understanding of the gospels to be slow and confusing at times, this passage should give you hope! Even the disciples walking with Jesus for 3.5 years didn't get it! Notes to No Thunder Today Episode Link: h...

We jump of the Red-Letter trail today. Just for a bit. The reason will become obvious. We noticed that in almost every deep dive into the Red-Letter journey through the Gospels, that we inevitably reference the Psalms. So today, we asked a very simple question. "Can we construct a version of the Gospels only from the record of the Psalms?" The answer was a resounding YES! So that's what we did! Note to The Gospel According to the Psalms Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesa...

Today we close the chapter on the resurrection of Lazarus. This chapter leaves no room for ambiguity with respect to who Jesus is. In all of scripture there is only one the commands death. We've seen resurrection elsewhere in the Bible, but never like this. We gained some deeper insight into the local politics beyond the Pharisees, and I think it's the time in our Red-Letter journey that we've encountered Caiaphas - the Jewish High Priest. Anyway, this is a rich chapter, and we walk throug...

First of all, Merry Christmas! Today, we walked through Biblical history to trace the prophecy from Eden to the Birth. Christmas is the day when Heaven came down. It truly is the most beautiful day in the history of mankind.