Tag: whitchard
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God is Love: The Reason Why There is a Hell :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Scripture References: Matthew 7:21-23; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 12:13-21, 16:19-31; John 5:28-29; Acts 17:30-31; Romans 1:18-32, 3:10-18, 5:6-11; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27, 10:31; Revelation 20:11-15 There are just some things that are getting harder …
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Words of Comfort to Weary Souls (Matt 4:12- 5:12) :: By Donald Whitchard
Isaiah 40:1-5, 42:1-4; Matthew 4:12-25; 5:1-12; Luke 6:20-49 Summary: Jesus’ public ministry got underway after His time in the wilderness. He had overcome the temptations of the devil and was now ready to change the world. Matthew 4:12-28: Jesus had just returned from the desert when He heard that John the Baptist had been cast…
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The Showdown in the Desert (Matthew 4:1-11) :: By Donald Whitchard
Scripture References: Isaiah 14:7-12; Ezekiel 28:11-15; Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:10 Summary: After being baptized in the Jordan River, Jesus was driven into the Judean wilderness by the Holy Spirit to face forty days of hunger, thirst, and a supernatural battle with His archenemy and ours, the devil. The Holy Spirit led Jesus…
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John the Baptist and the King’s Arrival (Matt 3:1-17) :: By Donald Whitchard
Matthew 3:1-17; Mark 1:2-8; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:31-34 Summary: John the Baptist was God’s chosen instrument to announce the arrival of the Promised Messiah. Matthew 3:1-6: Thirty years have passed between the events described in Chapter 2. Matthew continues the story of Jesus with the arrival of John the Baptist in the wilderness of Judea.…
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The King Who Was Born a Fugitive (Matt 1:18-2:23) :: By Donald Whitchard
Scriptures: Isaiah 7:14; Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-23; Luke 2:1-20 Summary: Matthew’s Gospel records the account of the circumstances surrounding the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, including the attempt on His life by the hands of Herod and the horrendous events that followed. Joseph and Mary were betrothed to one another. It involved a…
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Royal Lineage of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 1:1-18) :: By Donald Whitchard
Genesis 18:10-14; Joshua 2:1-21; 2 Samuel 12:1-25; Matthew 1:1-18 Summary: We tend to skip the list of names in the first verses of Matthew’s gospel, but each name is there for a reason, and it is to show the royal line of the Lord Jesus Christ and His right to the throne of David as…
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How God Defines Greatness (1 Samuel 18:5-16) :: By Donald Whitchard
1 Samuel 18:5-16; Proverbs 26:12, 27:2 Greatness, according to the world’s standards, is measured by things such as achievements, status, education, wealth, and individual or corporate contributions to society. While these traits are admirable, they can also be a source of pride, selfishness, self-centeredness, and arrogance. God’s definition of greatness is different. It is not…
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Who Do You Think You Are, Goliath? 1 Sam. 17:1-54 :: By Donald Whitchard
1 Samuel 17:1-54; Isaiah 54:17; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Ephesians 6:10-18 Summary: One of the unfortunate realities about living in this world is the existence of bullies who intimidate and threaten others. The Bible describes one such bully named Goliath. His threats against Israel and God ceased when he encountered David and one smooth stone. Bullies…
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Construction of a King’s Character (1 Sam. 16:14-23) :: By Donald Whitchard
David had just been anointed as the next king of Israel by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16:1-13), much to the amazement of his father and brothers. He had been in the fields of Judea tending the family flocks, seemingly consigned like the majority of the populace to live a life of productive obscurity known…
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David: God’s Surprising Choice (1 Samuel 16:1-13) :: By Donald Whitchard
“NOW the Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.’ And Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If…
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David: Sovereign Choice of God (1 Samuel 16:1-13) :: By Donald Whitchard
Three thousand years ago, the LORD God chose a young man by the name of David to be the king of Israel. Out of all the sons of Jesse, God’s favor came to rest on David. He was the youngest son of Jesse, a poor farmer from the tiny hamlet of Bethlehem. David, on the…
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God’s War on Israel’s Enemies (Ezekiel 38-39) :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Gog and Magog: God’s War on Israel’s Enemies Scripture References: Ezekiel 38:1-23,39:1-29; Daniel 9:27,11:40-45; Revelation 7:9-14 In reading the account of the coming Gog-Magog War in Ezekiel 38-39, we need to ask some relevant questions on how everything comes to pass. First, who are the invaders of Israel mentioned in the prophecy? We read about…
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How God Restores Israel (Ezekiel 37:15-28) :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Ezekiel 37:1-14 describes the nation of Israel as a desolate valley of dry bones, devoid of life and significance. Ezekiel, like most of his fellow Israelites, had given up on the idea of ever being restored as a country. They were now in the land of Babylon, exiled from everything they had held dear. The…
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God’s War on Israel’s Enemies (Ezekiel 38-39) :: By Dr.Donald Whitchard
Gog and Magog: God’s War on Israel’s Enemies Scripture References: Ezekiel 38:1-23,39:1-29; Daniel 9:27,11:40-45; Revelation 7:9-14 In reading the account of the coming Gog-Magog War in Ezekiel 38-39, we need to ask some relevant questions on how everything comes to pass. First, who are the invaders of Israel mentioned in the prophecy? We read about…
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The Upper Room Prophecy :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
John 14:1-3 The Synoptic Gospels, those written by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, with their similarities in content and narrative, all present the apocalyptic teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ as He met with His disciples across from Jerusalem upon the Mou…
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Bringing Life to Dead Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14) :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
The thirty-seventh chapter of Ezekiel presents what, on the surface, seems to be a story of desolation and ruin that is beyond any hope of restoration by human standards. This chapter describes a tragic episode in the history of Israel as a nation. It paints a bleak picture of its past but also shows that…
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Responsibility of God’s Prophets (Ezek 3:17-21) :: By Dr.Donald Whitchard
We have looked at the Lord Jesus Christ, the center of all Bible prophecy, and His mission of redemption. The bulk of prophecy focuses upon Him as well as the future of the nation of Israel. The Scriptures describe Israel’s unstable relationship with GOD in a series of rebuttals and condemnation for their unfaithfulness to…
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Government of the Promised Son, Pt 1 (Is. 9:6-7) :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
There are verses in the Bible that bring joy and peace to the troubled soul. There are verses that give us the assurance that the promises of God are true and faithful. There are those verses that give us the affirmation that God has given us mercy and salvation we do not deserve. Yet in…
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Encounter with God’s Holiness: Isaiah 6:1-8 :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
The events described in Chapter 6 of Isaiah occur early in the life of the prophet. We read in verse 1 that King Uzziah had died after a reign of fifty-two years. He is also referred to as Azariah. He was a king who walked in the ways of the LORD until he tried to…
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Fifth Gospel of Isaiah: Condemnation, Correction :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Isaiah 5:20-21; Judges 21:25; Romans 1:18-22 Summary: Isaiah confronted the nation of Judah for its spiritual depravity and worldviews that turned the nation into a complete disaster with no concept of right and wrong. The LORD called Isaiah as His chosen vessel to warn Judah and call them back to God. “Woe to those who…
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Crucial Takeaways from the Book of Revelation :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Revelation 20:1-15, 21:1-7, 22:17; Matthew 25:41-46; Hebrews 9:27; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; Philippians 2:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:10 Summary: I want to bring my series of messages on Revelation to a conclusion by pointing out some key points to consider apart from its prophetic significance. These points can be used as tools for witnessing as well as…
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The Beast from the Earth: The False Prophet… :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Revelation 13:11-18; Isaiah 14:7-12; Matthew 4:8-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Summary: The False Prophet uses false “miracles and signs” to convince the world that the Antichrist is the leader for whom they have been waiting. He is a tool of Satan used to draw people away from the truth of the Gospel and toward the certainty…
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The Consequences of Denial :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Summary: If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then the past two thousand years have been the greatest tragedy and travesty of human civilization. There is enough credible eyewitness testimony and extra-biblical evidence to verify the historical …
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Genesis 1-11: Existence & Presence of God, Pt 1 :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:16-18, John 1:1-4, Isaiah 40:28, Acts 17:24, Hebrews 1:10, Hebrews 11:3 Summary: The presence and personal interest of God in the affairs of His creation is evident to those who have eyes to see (Romans 1:18-22). He gives us p…
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Genesis 1-11: Existence & Presence of God, Pt 1 :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:16-18, John 1:1-4, Isaiah 40:28, Acts 17:24, Hebrews 1:10, Hebrews 11:3 Summary: The presence and personal interest of God in the affairs of His creation is evident to those who have eyes to see (Romans 1:18-22). He gives us p…
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The Overlooked Question of Jesus :: By Donald Whitchard
Luke 18:8, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 5:6-11 Summary: Belief in God is fading from all parts of society. The idea of faith is all but ignored. Jesus told us it would be this way before He returns. Is your faith in the Lord in the same shape as the wo…
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The Beast from the Sea… (Rev. 13:1-10) :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
From the Editor: This will be Donald’s last article for a while, as his serious health condition has made him extremely tired. Donald said, “If anyone would like to drop me a note, my mailing address and phone number are on my website: www.realitycityreverend.com, and I can also be reached at: [email protected] I’ll be back. Thanks.” The Beast…
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The Cosmic War (Rev. 12) :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Genesis 12:1-4; Numbers 24:17-19; Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Psalm 110:1-2; Matthew 4:1-11; Revelation 12:1-17 Summary: This chapter contains symbols describing the ongoing war between God Almighty and the devil, Satan. It also shows that the LORD has the final victory and that His people Israel will be saved as He promises throughout Scripture. When symbols are used…
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The Ministry of the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11:1-14) :: By Donald Whitchard
Deuteronomy 18:15-22; 1 Kings 18:21; Mark 9:1-13; 2 Peter 1:16-18; Revelation 11:1-14 Summary: During the first half of the Great Tribulation, God sends two ambassadors from heaven to preach the Gospel to the people in Jerusalem. Their ministry is to call the people to repentance before it is too late. Throughout history, even in its…
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Three Crosses on a Hill: A Study in Evangelism :: By Donald Whitchard
Isaiah 53:5-6, Luke 23:39-46, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 5:6-11, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Isaiah 64:6 Summary: When we preach about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins upon the cross, we forget that there were also two men crucified on cr…
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God’s Message to Us in Christ :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Hebrews 1:1-4, John 14:7-9, Mark 10:45, Romans 6:23, Isaiah 53:4-6, John 3:16-17 Summary: Throughout the ages, God has been seeking men and women who have ears to hear and hearts willing to respond to spiritual truths. In these last days, He has spoken…
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All This, and Yet You Will Not Repent :: By Donald Whitchard
Luke 13:3, 15:7; Revelation 6:12-17, 9:1-21, 16:8-9 Some time ago, I had the opportunity to participate in an online study of the book of Revelation with a fellow pastor and dear friend in the LORD. He had been describing to the viewers of his program some of the possible scenarios that will appear on the…
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Salvation in Spite of Tribulation: Rev. 7:1-17 :: By Donald Whitchard
Matthew 11:28-30; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 1:15, 2:5-6; Revelation 7:1-17 Summary: God’s call to salvation in Christ will continue after the time of the Rapture. He will call out 144,000 Jewish believers to spread the Gospel worldwide during the Tribulation, resulting in a massive global harvest of the redeemed. John has been given…
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So Many Lambs…Wolves, Too Few Shepherds :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Psalm 23; Matthew 9:35-36; Acts 20:28-31; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:8-9 Summary: The events described in Revelation Chapter 6 describe the terrors that will come upon the earth. The lost are like sheep without a shepherd about to face this horrid time. We must bring them to Jesus before it is too late. Bible prophecy…
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Death Has Died, and Jesus Christ Has Won :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Summary: Death and the grave hold no fear to a child of God. If we have put our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, we can have confidence that His death and resurrection has put an end to it. In 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, Paul teaches that the flesh can…
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The Proclamation of the Church: Part 2 :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
Acts 4:12, Mark 16:15, Titus 1:9, Acts 2:38, 1 Timothy 4:6 Summary: The church was established by the Lord Jesus Christ to proclaim the message of salvation to a lost and dying world. We need to remember that and repent of proclaiming anything else. Ig…
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The Lamb Breaks the Seals, Part 2 (Rev. 6:9-17) :: By Donald Whitchard
Isaiah 5:20, 53:4-6, 64:6; Matthew 24:21-22; Revelation 6:9-17 Summary: The seal judgments described in Revelation 6 are both a warning of what is to come and a judgment upon those who fail to heed it. The book of Revelation presents the certainty of prophetic fulfillment via the Sovereignty of God. It proclaims a prophetic warning…
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The Lamb Breaks the Seals, Part 2 (Rev. 6:1-8) :: By Donald Whitchard
Isaiah 11:4; Matthew 25:32; John 5:22; Acts 17:31; 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 6:1-8 Summary: The time for judgment upon the earth and its inhabitants has arrived. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, takes the scroll from the hand of God and breaks the seals of God’s wrath, each one progressively worse than the…
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Worthy is the Lamb! Rev. 5 :: By Donald Whitchard
Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 5:1-14 Summary: The Lord Jesus Christ has all things and events under His Divine and Sovereign control. He has the final word on how everything will conclude. No amount of evil on the world’s part will stop Him from His mission to “make all…
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Before the Throne of God :: By Dr.Donald Whitchard
Isaiah 6:1-8; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:8-9; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Revelation 4:2-11 Summary: How can anyone describe, with our limited human vocabulary, the glory and wonder of God’s heaven? John’s vision shows that God is in control of the events here on Earth and will bring all of history to a conclusion on His terms.…
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A Door Opened in Heaven: Rev 4:1 :: By Donald Whitchard
Revelation 4:1; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Summary: John’s testimony of what he witnessed in heaven shows the glory, majesty, and power of Almighty God over the affairs of His creation and His Sovereignty over the course of human history. In Chapter 4 of Revelation, we come to the third and final…
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Genesis 1-11: Existence & Presence of God, Pt 3 :: By Donald Whitchard
Romans 1:18-22, Romans 2:1-16, Numbers 32:23, 1 John 1:8, Hebrews 2:1-4 Summary: One of the major arguments (proofs) for the existence of God is based upon moral standards, defined as the concept of right and wrong, good and evil, ethics and emotions t…