Roger Meyer

When are the “times of restoration” spoken of by the prophets, the Apostle Peter, and Jesus Christ? What is going to be restored? And when will it be restored?

After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples of “the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” and instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:3–4). The disciples asked Jesus if He would at that time restore the kingdom to Israel (v. 5). Jesus told them it was not for them to know when (v. 7).

It is surprising to some that many prophecies foretell the marriage of Christ to His Church. There are references to this marriage in many of the parables Jesus spoke, as well as in the epistles of Paul. The book of Revelation clearly identifies the bride (the Church) who becomes the wife of the Lamb (Jesus Christ), and it also described their wedding supper.

Throughout history, mankind has made pets of many animals large and small, including hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, rabbits, birds, lizards, turtles, fish, horses, pigs, monkeys, ants, tarantulas, snakes, and others. Dogs top the list of pets that we tend to love, followed by cats in most cases. Of the millions of species of animals God created, only a very small percentage are chosen as pets. But that will change in the future.

“Pure evil” is how Sheriff Jud Smith described the recent school shooting in Winder, Northeast Georgia. Tragedies like these have become disturbingly frequent in American schools. Each incident is met with tearful interviews from victims’ families mourning their horrific loss, community vigils showing solidarity, and condemnations from federal, state, and local officials. The media is inundated with interviews of parents, students, and school authorities, alongside analyses of the shooters, the weapons used, and the judicial processes that follow.

Human nature is not generally supportive of seeking the truth. People are often strongly tempted to seek only like-minded opinions and “facts” supporting their ideas while dismissing facts that challenge what they want to believe. It is a trap we can all fall into. Many times I’ve heard the statement, “Well, I still think [blank] and you can’t convince me otherwise.” But, is this attitude really good for us?