Bible school - HS 4
- Unit 1: Minor prophets
- Week 1: Hosea
- Week 2: Joel
- Week 3: Amos
- Week 4: Obadiah
- Week 5: Jonah
- Week 6: Micah
- Week 7: Nahum
- Week 8: Habakkuk
- Week 9: Zephaniah
- Week 10: Haggai
- Week 11: Zechariah - 1
- Week 12: Zechariah - 2
- Week 13: Malachi
- Poetry 1
- Revelation
- Catholic Epistles
Unit 1: Minor prophets
Week 1: Hosea
Objective:
-
Hosea’s Unfaithful Wife
-
Hosea's family
-
God’s Continuing Love for Israel
-
Fruits of repentance
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS
- Metropolitan Youssef - Hosea
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Hosea 1
- Hosea 2:6-7, 14-23
- Hosea 6:1-3
- Hosea 11
- Hosea 14
Key verse(s):
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.” Hosea 11:1
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
Comments:
Theme of Hosea: God's salvation
Messianic Prophecy: The Lord's entry to Egypt (11:1)
- Hosea is one of the minor prophets.
-
The book of Hosea was written for the Northern Kingdom of Israel
-
Outwardly, the nation was enjoying a time of prosperity and growth; but inwardly, moral corruption and spiritual adultery permeated the lives of the people.
- The prophet Hosea was instructed by God to marry an unfaithful woman, and he found in his own life a vivid illustration of the unfaithfulness of God’s people and the faithfulness of God.
- Hosea repeatedly echoes his threefold message: God abhors the sins of His people; judgment is certain; but God’s love stands firm.
- Hosea, whose name means “Salvation.”
- The book of Hosea is a story of one-sided love and faithfulness that represents the relationship between Israel and God.
- As Gomer is married to Hosea, so Israel is betrothed to God. Both relationships gradually disintegrate—Gomer runs after other men, and Israel runs after other gods.
- Israel’s spiritual idolatry is illustrated by Gomer’s physical adultery. The development of the book can be traced in two parts: the adulterous wife and faithful husband (ch. 1–3), and the adulterous Israel and faithful Lord (ch. 4–14).
- Hosea’s message reflects the terrible fascination of Israel with Baal worship.
- Baal means “husband” or “lord,” and his worship involved fertility rites that included ritual prostitution. Baal was the other lover to whom the unfaithful Israel often turned.
- Hosea provides one of the Old Testament’s most eloquent expressions of God’s mercy.
- Chapter 1:
- God asked Hosea to marry Gomer. She gave birth to three children. Each child's name was a message from God.
- First Child: Boy: Jezreel - God sows/scatters. What God sows from hardships/punishments are the seeds of our actions.
- Second Child: Girl: Lo-Ruhamah - No mercy. When man doesn't stop sinning and takes advantage of God's patience, he doesn't receive mercy, but judgment.
- Third Child: Boy: Lo-Ammi - Not my people. If many can't separate from sin, how can they belong to God? Therefore, sin leads to separation from God and not being from his people.
- Chapter 2:
- V6-7: God builds walls of thorns around us sometimes so we don't go back to our pleasures and lusts. Things happen and people come and go, which are ways of God's protection for us
- V14-23: A symphony of love and hope after all the tough messages.
- V.15: "Valley of Achor" is where Achan cheated and stole (Joshua 7). This area became known for cheating and disobedience. God will use this same area to make it a door of hope if His people repent.
- V.19: Betrothal or engagement days tend to be the most romantic and the couple love each other a lot. God used this metaphor a lot in the Bible to symbolize His relationship to humanity. "Forever" means the strong love will be forever and the second coming will be the "wedding."
- V.23: Strong message of hope. The message has NT tone.
- Chapter 6:
- Another message of hope.
- V.2: Hosea with the prophetic spirit spoke about the "third day"
- Former rain: Comes early to help after seed sowing. Latter rain: Comes towards the end to help with budding and producing fruits. God's blessings come at the beginning and end and are countless.
- Chapter 11:
- Verse 1 Talks about how God saved his people a long time ago with Moses from Egypt. The number was small (child) and now they are a big nation (adult).
- Verse 1: Prophecy that God will flee to Egypt
- St. Matthew linked this verse to Christ's entry to Egypt (Matt. 2:15)
- Egypt was a symbol of idolatry and sin. This is a prophecy that God will accept the Gentiles and Egypt will become sanctified (Isaiah 19.)
- Chapter 14:
- Fruits of the repentance
- V.1-3: Human's role in repentance
- V.4-9: God's role in sanctification
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- What are the meanings of these names: Hosea, Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah, Lo-Ammi?
- Why did God ask Hosea to take for himself a wife of harlotry?
- Why did God say to the House of Israel “You are not My people and I will not be your God"?
- What did God promise the people of Israel?
- Find a prophecy in this book and when it was fulfilled. Give verses.
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- Hosea’s wife was called _________.
- The number of the children of Israel shall be as:
a) the stars b) the sand of the sea c) the waves of the ocean - When Israel was a _________, I loved him, and out of _________ I called My ______..
- I will not execute the _________ of My anger; I will not again _________ Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, the _______ One in your midst; and I will not come with ________.
- I will be like the _____ to ________; he shall grow like the _____, and lengthen his _______ like Lebanon. 2. Who walks in the ways of the Lord? a) the poor b) transgressors c) the righteous
Week 2: Joel
Week 2: Joel 1-3
Objective:
- The Locust Plague
- Mourning for the Land
- The Day of the Lord
- God’s Spirit Poured Out
- God Blesses His People
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Minor Prophets SUSOPTS
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Joel 1:1-20
- Joel 2:1-32
- Joel 3:18-21
Key verse(s):
“And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh" Joel 2:28
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
Comments:
Theme of Joel: The Day of the Lord
Messianic Prophecy: The Holy Spirit on Pentecost (2:28)
- Joel is one of the minor prophets.
-
The book of Joel was written for the Southern Kingdom of Israel
- Joel means "Jehovah is God"
- The book of Joel can be divided into two major sections: the day of the Lord in retrospect (ch. 1); and the day of the Lord in prospect (chs. 2,3).
- Chapter 1:
- The waves of locusts are like levels of sin:
- Chewing locust: small - can't move much. Small thoughts into the heart and mind
- Swarming locust: started to move.
- Crawling locust: developed small wings.
- Consuming locust: Strong wings that can fly. Sins when they completely grow and take over the human
- St. Jerome symbolizes these four waves to the four kingdoms that disciplined Judah (Southern kingdom): Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.
- V.6: Symbolizes the nations that will be very strong and take them to captivity
- V.9-10: No worship is taking place due to the lack of everything = no joy or communion with God
- The waves of locusts are like levels of sin:
- Chapter 2:
- V.1-11: The day of the Lord will be fearful to those who didn’t listen to his voice/warnings (locusts). Those who fear God, wait for this day joyfully.
- V.12-17: God is calling for repentance.
- V.13: God wants our hearts to follow Him and offer true repentance. Not just an outside fake repentant look.
- V.15-17: God is calling everyone to repent
- V.23: Rain/water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Former rain comes at the beginning right after sowing to help the seeds grow and bud. Latter rain comes later to help the small buds become big trees and produce fruits. The Holy Spirit (Former rain) comes on the day of baptism to purify us and keeps coming again (latter rain) during our life to sanctify us until the end of our life.
- V.28: A prophecy on the day of Pentecost. When His Spirit was poured on His disciples. St. Peter quoted Joel in his sermon (Acts 2).
- Chapter 3:
- V.18: There will be joy and happiness after we receive the Holy Spirit. The dry mountains are now dripping with wine (wine is a symbol of Joy in the Bible).
- The Book ends with a message of hope and joy in seeing God's work in His Church.
- Egypt and Edom: symbols of sin. Sin and violence will end, and God will reign forever (V.20)
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- Whom do the locusts represent?
- What is meant by the day of the Lord?
- Who quoted the prophet Joel in the NT?
- Find a prophecy in this book and when it was fulfilled. Give verses.
- How can the people escape this invasion?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- Joel asked the priests to a) Consecrate a fast b) Call a sacred assembly c) cry out to the LORD d) all of those
- To whom should the beasts of the field cry out? a) each other b) the Lord c) the hunters d) Joelan
- What do verses 28-29 in chapter 2 prophesy about?
Week 3: Amos
Week 3: Amos 1-9
Objective:
-
Amos's introduction
-
-
Punishment of Israel’s Sins
-
Israel Did Not Accept Correction
-
A Call to Repentance
-
Visions of the locusts, the fire, and the plumb line
-
Amaziah’s Complaint
-
Vision of the Summer Fruit
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Fr. Daoud Lamie - Amos (Full)
- Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Amos 1:1
- Amos 3:1-8
- Amos 4:6-13
- Amos 5:4-15
- Amos 7:10-17
- Amos 8
Key verse(s):
“And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord God, “That I will make the sun go down at noon, And I will darken the earth in broad daylight" Amos 8:9
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
Comments:
Theme of Amos: God's judgment - The Day of the Lord
Messianic Prophecy: Darkness at noon (8:9)
- Amos is one of the minor prophets.
-
The book of Amos was written for Israel, the Northern Kingdom
- Amos means: “Burden” or “Burden-bearer”
- Amos lived up to the meaning of his name by bearing up under his divinely given burden of declaring judgment to rebellious Israel
- Amos was from Tekoa (1:1) which is south of Jerusalem. Even though Amos was from the South kingdom, God chose him to prophesy to the North Kingdom
- Amos mentioned that he was a sheep breeder (1:1) and a tender of sycamore fruit (7:14-15)
- Even though he was a simple man and not a prophet or a son of a prophet (7:14), God chose him to prophesy
- His prophecy has deep meanings and is very poetic
- According to 1:1, Amos prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, king of Judah (767–739 B.C.), and Jeroboam, king of Israel (782–753 B.C.), thus leaving a possible time frame from 767 to 753 B.C.
- Amos ministered after the time of Joel and Jonah, and just before Hosea, Micah, and Isaiah. At this time Uzziah reigned over a prosperous and militarily successful Judah.
- In the north, Israel was ruled by the capable king Jeroboam II. Economic and military circumstances were almost ideal, but prosperity only increased the materialism, immorality, and injustice of the people.
- Assyria, Babylon, Syria, and Egypt were relatively weak during these years.
- Thus, the people of Israel found it hard to imagine the coming disaster predicted by Amos—a disaster that occurred barely three decades later.
- Chapter 3:1-8
- God asked 7 questions and all are to be answered with "No"
- Question 1: God wanted to walk with His people but they did not keep the agreement
- Question 2: The Lion will only roar if there is prey. The devil is roaring cause of their actions
- Question 3: A young lion will roar out happiness that he found a prey. The devil is happy he found a prey
- Question 4: The bird will fall because of a trap/snare. God's people should be aware of satan's traps/snares
- Question 5: A snare will not be removed unless it catches something. The devil is removing the traps as they caught many souls
- Question 6: The trumpet was a sign of war. People would be scared when they hear it. God's voice is loud and clear like a trumpet and the people ignore Him.
- Question 7: Any calamity happens from God for the people’s correction and repentance. If they witnessed all these calamities and did not repent, this is a sign of their ignorance.
- Discuss with the youth about different calamities that happen around us (Ex. COVID) or hardships that happen to us and how God uses these things so we can repent and get back to him. You can give Biblical examples.
- V.7: God doesn’t do anything unless He tells his prophets. The people should listen to Amos. We shall listen to the priests and bishops when they tell us to repent.
- Amos 4:6-13: God has done many things to correct His people. The message is very strong which reflects the people's spiritual status at this time. Reflect on things that happen nowadays for our correction and repentance.
- Soon after all these messages and things God allowed for their repentance, they were taken into captivity. That shows that God's messages are real if people do not repent. God is merciful and compassionate, but he is also just, judges, and keeps his word.
- Amos 5:4-15: A call from God to repentance
- Amos 5:6: It's also translated (Seek the Lord and you shall live)
- Amos 7:10-17: Amaziah the priest of Bethel was not a faithful priest. Instead of supporting God's prophet and his message, he attacked him and complained to the king.
- Amos 7:14: We see Amos's humility
- Amos mentioning his profession is proof of his humility. He is saying he is poor and from a low-class family as these jobs were meant for these people at the time. It also shows that God chooses the poor and the humble people.
- Amos 8:9: A Messianic prophesy
- For the Israelites, it meant that their happiness would be turned into darkness. The joy will be switched to sorrow
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- What was Amos’ job?
- Find a prophecy in this book and when it was fulfilled. Give verses.
- To whom does God reveal His secret?
- Describe God’s judgment on the day of the Lord
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- Amos was: a) king b) a sheep breeder c) soldier d) prince
- God reveals His secrets to: a) the kings b) the princes c) the prophets d) the slaves
- Seek _______ and not evil, that you may _______; so the LORD God of _______ will be with you, as you have spoken.
- The Day of the Lord will be ______. a) darkness b) light c) cold d) rainy
Week 4: Obadiah
Week 4: Obadiah
Objective:
-
The Judgment on Edom
-
Edom Mistreated His Brother
-
Israel’s Final Triumph
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Obadiah 1-21
Key verse(s):
“For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you" Obadiah 1:15
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
Comments:
Theme of Obadiah: The destruction of Edom - The Day of the Lord
Messianic Prophecy: N/A
- Background story to understand Obadiah:
- The Book contains condemnation against Edom and prophesies their total destruction because of their persistent opposition to God’s chosen people.
- Edomites aligned with the Chaldeans to defeat and destroy the Israelites
- They assisted the Babylonians on how to enter and take down the Kingdom (2 Kings 25)
- Their Joy in seeing Israel taken to captivity is like the devil rejoicing in seeing God's people look defeated
- Two years later, Nebucednazzer came and destroyed them. The devil is a cheater has no alliance with anyone
- Psalm 137 "By the rivers of Babylon" talks about this incident.
- Obedaiah directed his prophecy toward the Edomites and told them "As you have done, it shall be done to you."
- The Book contains condemnation against Edom and prophesies their total destruction because of their persistent opposition to God’s chosen people.
- Obadiah is the shortest book in the OT with only 21 verses
- Obadiah means “Worshiper of Yahweh” or “Servant of Yahweh”
- The Book deals with the bitter rivalry between Edom, the descendants of Jacob’s twin brother Esau, and the people of Israel.
- Though the shortest of the Old Testament books, Obadiah carries one of the strongest messages of judgment.
- Because of the long history of opposing God’s people, Edom’s fate is sealed, and there is no possibility of deliverance. God will bring total destruction upon Edom, and there will be no remnant.
- V.2-4: That their pride should be humbled.
- V.5-7: That their wealth should be plundered.
- V.8-9: That their wisdom should be taken.
- V.10-16: That their spiteful behavior towards God’s Israel should be avenged.
- V.17-20: Gracious promises to Israel; that they shall be restored and reformed, and shall be victorious over the Edomites, and become masters of their land and the lands of others of their neighbors.
- V.21: The kingdom of the Messiah shall be set up by the bringing in of the great salvation.
- The prophetic theme of the day of the Lord is prominent in verses 15-21. As in the prophecy of Joel, this day brings both judgment and deliverance. For Edom, this is a pronouncement of judgment (V.15-16), but for Judah it will bring deliverance as they experience blessing and restoration to their land (V.17–21).
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- What is the shortest Book in the OT? How many chapters/verses?
- What does the name Obadiah mean?
- What will happen to the House of Esau?
- What deceived Edom?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- What did Edom do to deserve the wrath of God?
- "For the _______ of the LORD upon all the nations is ________; as you have done, it shall be _________ to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own ________."
- The House of Jacob shall be a _______, and the house of ________ a flame; But the House of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, And no __________ shall remain of the House of Esau," For the __________ has spoken."
Week 5: Jonah
Week 5: Jonah
Objective:
-
Jonah’s Disobedience
-
Jonah Thrown into the Sea
-
Jonah’s Prayer and Deliverance
-
The Ninevites' repentance
-
Jonah’s Anger and God’s Kindness
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Jonah 1-4
Key verse(s):
“I have been cast out of Your sight, Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
Comments:
Theme of Jonah: The Lord's mercy and forgiveness
Messianic Prophecy: Jonah is a type of Jesus Christ (He came out alive after three days and the Ninevites were saved. Our Lord rose on the third day and delivered His people)
- Jonah is a book that shows God's greatest love and forgiveness.
- Many people pinpoint Jonah's arrogance and his escape from God, but we shall meditate on his strong faith and repentance.
- At his time, prophets like Hosea, Joel, and Amos strongly urged the people to repent before the Assyrian captivity came as a punishment.
- Ninevah was the capital of Assyria. Jonah hesitated to go because he knew the Assyrians were coming to destroy his people and take them captive.
- For Jonah, it did not make sense to preach about this 'extremely bad nation' who is coming to rule over his nation.
- God knew their hearts and knew they would repent.
- This generation that Jonah evangelized to repent. But the following generation was bad and they started to head towards Israel to take them to exile.
- We will see later that Nahum prophesied against Ninevah (The Assyrians) as they exiled God's people. He prophesied the Assyria would be punished by Babylon.
- In summary:
- Hosea, Joel, and Amos: told the people to repent lest the Assyrians come to destroy the North Kingdom (Israel)
- Minor prophets and the Assyrian captivity:
- (Before) Jonah: Went to evangelize to the Assyrians
- (During) Micah: Prophesied to the South Kingdom (Judah). His message to them was to repent or the Babylonians will punish Judah
- (After) Nahum: Prophesied against the Assyrians. Babylon will punish Assyria
- In the Jewish Tradition, Jonah is thought to be the son of the widow whom Elijah arose from the dead (1 Kings 17)
- Some people doubt Jonah is a symbolic story and not real. However, our Lord pointed out this story in Matthew 12 and Luke 11.
- Jonah is also mentioned in 2 Kings 14
- Jonah 1
- Everything and everyone obeyed, except Jonah (Sea, ship, wind, mariners, fish)
- The mariners:
- They knew from experience what happened in the sea was abnormal. Most likely due to someone’s sin/fault
- They prayed to their gods before doing any actions (throwing cargo)
- They made sure everyone prays (life of fellowship)
- They did not agree initially to throw Jonah into the sea as they cared about him
- They rebuked Jonah for not obeying his God
- They prayed to Jonah's God and feared Him
- They offered sacrifices and took vows to Jonah's God
- Jonah 2
- Jonah is God's man
- The first thing he did was pray and praise in the middle of his hardships
- His deep faith is highlighted in Jonah 2:4
- "I will look again toward Your holy temple" - He was in the belly of the fist when he said that!
- Jonah 2:7 - "And my prayer went up to You" He is sure God is listening to him
- God didn't prevent Jonah from service. He accepted Jonah and returned him to his service. Similar to St. Peter after the Cross at the Sea of Tiberias (Jonah 21)
- Jonah 3
- The people didn't question Jonah but believed right away
- They instantly offered true repentance
- This chapter shows that repentance does not need a long period of time, but a true repentant heart
- Jonah didn't tell them what to do. He only said they would be destroyed.
- The people's faith led them to understand that repentance will allow God to not relent (3:9)
- Jonah 4
- Jonah was not happy they repented and God accepted them
- He was like the older son who didn’t like the return of his younger brother
- The plan is like the Jews who grew but went astray from God and the Ninevites are the Gentiles whom God cared for their repentance.
- Jonah was not happy they repented and God accepted them
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- Why did Jonah run from God?
- What effect did God stirring and stilling the storm have on the sailors?
- How do you see Jonah’s prayer: a cry for help, for forgiveness or for thanksgiving?
- Give verses showing Jonah’s assurance of the deliverance of God.
- What was the Ninevites' reaction to Jonah’s message?
- Mention four commands in the decree given by the king.
- Show Jonah’s selfishness through this Holy Book.
- After reading the Book of Jonah, prove that salvation comes from the Lord to everyone who believes.
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- The Lord asked Jonah to go to:
a) Tarshish b) Nineveh c) Joppa - What was Jonah doing when the storm started?
a) praying b) eating c) sleeping - Jonah was in the belly of the fish for:
a) forty days b) one week c) three days and three nights - While in the belly of the fish Jonah was:
a) praying b) singing c) crying d) all of these - How many days did the Ninevites have before the city was overthrown?
a) three b) ten c) forty - When the Ninevites heard Jonah’s message they:
a) proclaimed a fast b) believed God c) put on sackcloth d) all of these - The plant was damaged by:
a) fire b) a worm c) wind d) rain - How many people lived in Nineveh?
a) 20,000 b) 200 c) 120,000
Week 6: Micah
Objective:
- Judgment on Israel and Judah
- Woe to Evildoers
- Lying Prophets
- The Lord’s Reign in Zion
- Zion’s Future Triumph
- The Coming Messiah
- God Pleads with Israel
- Israel’s Confession and Comfort
- God Will Forgive Israel
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Micah 1:1-9
- Micah 2:1-11
- Micah 4:1-13
- Micah 5:1-5
- Micah 6:1-8
- Micah 7:1-20
Key verse(s):
"Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise" Micah 7:8
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
Comments:
Theme of Jonah: Insrael's injustice
Messianic Prophecy: The Lord's incarnation (1:3) - The Lord's birth in Bethlehem (5:2)
- Micah is short for Michael: "Who is like God"
- He was one of the eighth-century prophets with Hosea, Amos, Isaiah, and Jonah.
- He is mentioned in Jeremiah 26:18.
- He directed his prophecy to the Kingdom of Judah.
- Micah’s home was Moresheth Gath (1:14), a town probably located about 20 miles southwest of Jerusalem.
- The book of Micah rebukes anyone who would use social status or political power for personal gain.
- One-third of Micah exposes the sins of his countrymen
- other third pictures the punishment God is about to send
- The final third holds out the hope of restoration once that discipline has ended.
- Through it all, God’s righteous demands upon His people are clear: “To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8).
- Micah 1:3: A prophecy on the Lord's incarnation
- Micah 1:8: He prophesied stripped and naked to show the people what the exile (their sins) will do to them. God asked him to prophesy in this way to show the Israelites what would happen to them if they didn't repent.
- Isiah also did the same: Isaiah 20:2-4
- Chapter 2 talks about what will happen to the evildoers and the false prophets
- Chapter 3: The triumph after overcoming sin. The good days will take place after their dark exile days.
- Micah 5:2: The famous verse on the Lord's birth in Bethlehem. This prophecy is mentioned in many Nativity hymns.
- Micah 5:5: 7 refers to the perfect earthly servants. 8: refers to the heavenly angels.
- Micah 7:8: is very important to discuss with high school youth.
- Micah 7:18: Talks about God's forgiveness.
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- How was Samaria the transgression of Jacob?
- Would Micah really go stripped and naked?
- What was the sin of the false prophets?
- Mention the prophecies in this book and their fulfillment in the New Testament.
- Why should Israel’s enemy not rejoice?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- Who will be a witness against the people?
a) Micah b) Israel c) the Lord God d) Samaria. - Make yourself bald and cut off your _______, Because of your precious _______; enlarge your baldness like an _________, for they shall go from you into __________.
- The evildoers covet:
a) fields b) houses c) both of these - The boundaries were determined by _________.
- The One to be ruler in Israel will come out of _________.
- For now He shall be ________ to the ends of the _______; and this One shall be ________.
- Who did God send to redeem Israel from the house of bondage?
a) Moses b) Aaron c) Miriam d) all of these
Week 7: Nahum
Objective:
-
God’s Mercy and Judgment
-
The Destruction of Nineveh
-
The Woe of Nineveh
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Nahum 1:1-15
- Nahum 2:1-13
- Nahum 3:1-19
Key verse(s):
"Behold, on the mountains, The feet of him who brings good tidings, Who proclaims peace!" Nahum 1:15
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
Comments:
Theme of Nahum: Destruction of Nineveh
Messianic Prophecy: Christ in the New Testament (1:15)
- Nahum means "comfort" or "consolation"
- Nahum prophesied against Ninevah after Jonah went there (approximately 130 years) and after they took Israel into captivity.
- Since the message of the book is a prediction of the destruction of Nineveh, it must have been delivered sometime before 612 B.C., when the city was destroyed by the Babylonians.
- The message of the prophecy is clearly stated in Nahum 3:7.
- Nahum 1:15: A Prophecy on Christ in the New Testament. Christ will come and will proclaim peace on earth. Our lives will be in constant rejoicing (feasts) because Christ reconciled the earthly with the heavenly.
- Nahum 2 talks about God's mercy and goodness to those who believe in Him after he punished them (His judgments). The chapter also talks about what will happen to those who reject God after numerous chances to return to him and offer repentance.
- Nahum 2:11 shows the Assyrians as lions who controlled the whole world and everyone feared them.
- Nahum 3:7: What Nineveh (The Assyrians) did to other nations, it will return on them. It is also a message for us that sin enslaves us. Sin needs to be amputated from its roots or will take the person down as it took many others slaves.
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- Nahum is prophesying against the city of :
a) Samaria b) Egypt c) Nineveh - What is the Messianic prophecy in chapter 1?
- What will God do to those who conspire against Him?
- Why compare Nineveh to lions?
- List the sins of Nineveh according to chapter 3.
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- Nahum is prophesying against the city of :
a) Samaria b) Egypt c) Nineveh - The LORD is ________, a stronghold in the day of _________; and He knows those who _______ in Him.
- The shields of his mighty men are made _______, the valiant men are in _________.
- The lion tore in pieces enough for his _______, killed for his _______, filled his caves with ________, and his dens with _________.
- All your strongholds are _______ trees with ripened figs: if they are __________, they fall into the _________ of the eater.
- Those who hear the news of Nineveh will:
a) cry b) clap their hands c) sing songs
Week 8: Habakkuk
Objective:
-
The Prophet Questions God’s Judgments
-
The Lord’s Reply
-
The Just Shall Live by Faith
-
Woe to the Wicked
-
The Prophet’s Prayer
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Habakkuk 1
- Habakkuk 2
- Habakkuk 3
Key verse(s):
"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation" Habakkuk 3:18
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
Comments:
Theme of Habakkuk: God edifies His people through Babylon - Destruction of Babylon
Messianic Prophecy: The Lord's incarnation (3:13)
- Habakkuk means "Embrace"
- Habakkuk was a Levite (Hab. 3:19)
- The book takes place before the exile of the South Kingdom.
- Although the book of Habakkuk does not mention a king's reign, internal evidence indicates a date between King Josiah's death (609 B.C.) and the beginning of the Babylonian captivity (605 B.C.).
- Habakkuk is the prophet mentioned in the book of Daniel (Daniel 14:33-36).
- A contemporary of Zephaniah and Jeremiah, Habakkuk warned of God’s approaching judgment through the approaching Babylonians.
- The prophecy was fulfilled in 605 B.C. when Nebuchadnezzar deported ten thousand of Jerusalem’s prominent citizens to Babylon.
- The book can be divided into two parts:
- Chapter 1-2: Habakkuk cries to the Lord - Expressing his problems
- Chapter 3: Habakkuk praises the Lord - Expressing his thanksgiving
- The main idea of the book:
- Habakkuk stresses God’s sovereign freedom as God to accomplish His good ends in His way. In spite of appearances to the contrary, God is still on the throne as the Lord of history and the Ruler of the nations.
- The book contains questions the prophet directed to God.
- Question 1: Why does God not respond to the wrong and injustice in the land (1:2-4)?
- Answer 1: He is about to respond by using Babylon as a tool of judgment (1:5–11).
- Question 2: Why does God use the wicked Babylonians to punish those more righteous than themselves (1:12, 13)?
- Answer 2: God has chosen this action plan (2:2, 3). The just person will live by faith in God (2:4). Woe to the unrighteous (2:6–20).
- Chapter 1:
- The book starts with Habbkuk asking God "Why?"
- God allows His people to ask Him why when the intention is to learn and feel comfortable. It's not good to ask God why to question Him and think that we can do better.
- Obviously God hears everyone’s cry and He always provides His comfort.
- Habakkuk asked why does God allow His people to suffer and be attacked by the Babylonians. Later, Habbkuk would learn that God allowed this for his people’s edification and salvation. He will reward the righteous and will avenge His people against the Babylonians.
- Chapter 2:
- Habakkuk asked God what to do
- God answered by saying that Habakkuk should write the prophecy and make it very clear that the person running shall be able to read it.
- God's message to his people is very clear:
- The proud's soul is not upright
- The just shall live by his faith
- Habakkuk 2:4 summarizes the spiritual life. They just shall be faithful and know that everything will come to an end and that God is in control (The Pantocartor).
- Chapter 3:
- After Habakkuk asked all his questions and the Lord answered them, he wrote a beautiful praise expressing God's mercy and compassion towards mankind.
- 3:13 is a Messianic prophecy. God will incarnate and will save His people through His Anointed One. He "struck the head of the wicked" on the Cross.
- Habakkuk understood that if the people repented, God would come, live with them, and will save them.
- Chapter 3:17-19
- A beautiful hymn by Habakkuk
- Starts with "though" shows Habakkuk's great faith
- Everything might not seem good. Things might not seem bright. "Though" things are not going well, Habakkuk will rejoice in the Lord.
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- Habakkuk questions God’s righteousness. Give verses.
- By what shall the just live?
- Find a prophecy about the Lord Jesus Christ in chapter 3.
- Habakkuk rejoiced in the Lord under hard conditions. Give verse.
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- What kind of nation is the Chaldeans?
a) bitter b) terrible c) hasty d) all of these - Their horses also are swifter than ________, and more fierce than evening _______. Their chargers charge ahead; their cavalry comes from afar; they fly as the _________ that hastens to eat.
- For the earth will be filled with the _________ of the ________ of the LORD, as the waters cover the ______.
- But the LORD is in His holy _______. Let all the earth keep ________ before _______."
- Yet I will _______in the LORD, I will _______ in the God of my __________.
- The LORD God is my ________; He will make my feet like _______'s feet, and He will make me walk on my _______ hills.
Week 9: Zephaniah
Objective:
-
The Great Day of the Lord
-
A Call to Repentance
-
Judgment on Nations
-
The Wickedness of Jerusalem
-
A Faithful Remnant
-
Joy in God’s Faithfulness
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Zephaniah 1
- Zephaniah 2:1-3
- Zephaniah 3:8-20
Key verse(s):
"At that time I will bring you back, Even at the time, I gather you" Zephaniah 3:20
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
Comments:
Theme of Zephaniah: The judgment and blessing of Jerusalem
Messianic Prophecy: The Lord's sacrifice (1:7)
- Zephaniah means "God hides"
- Zephaniah was a priest from the family of King Hezekiah
- Normally the genealogy of a prophet is traced no further than his father. Zephaniah, however, traces his ancestry back four generations to demonstrate his royal lineage as the great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah (1:1).
- Thus, he was a distant relative of King Josiah and those to whom he addresses his prophecy.
- Zephaniah lived at the time of Jeremiah and the destruction of the destruction of the Temple
- Therefore the book sends a final warning to the people before the Babylonian Exile
- The book focuses on “The Day of the Lord” which is mentioned 7 times
- This refers to the destruction of Jerusalem as a result of sin
- Chapter 1:
- V.1: Shows the genealogy of Zephaniah and the time of his prophecy during the reign of King Josiah
- V.7-9:
- "Be silent in the presence of the Lord God" because the people are waiting for God to see what He will do
- V. 7: Refers to the NT. A man usually prepares the sacrifice. But this time, God Himself will prepare the sacrifice. This means that God Himself will offer Himself as a sacrifice on behalf of His people
- God made a Holy sacrifice. His people are not worthy, therefore he will "sanctify" His people. Invited them = sanctified them. They can not be invited without sanctification
- Very similar to the Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matt. 22 & Lk. 14)
- The "clothed with foreign apparel" means not clothed with Baptism. Not clothed with Christ and the Grace of the NT. They will be cast out. They want to take a shortcut and not go through baptism (they want to leap over) (V.9)
- "Be silent in the presence of the Lord God" because the people are waiting for God to see what He will do
- Chapter 2:
- Talks about the people's repentance
- He called them an "undesirable nation" as they needed to repent to be desired
- "Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth" This Invitation for everyone to go to God
- "Seek righteousness, seek humility" so that you may be saved in the day of the Lord's anger AKA be saved and accepted by God.
- Chapter 3:
- Praise regarding the joy of the NT (V.14-20)
- "Daughter of Zion" is the Church of the NT
- God removed the judgments and defeated Satan (V.15)
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- Who was king at the time of Zephaniah?
- What sacrifice would the Lord prepare and who are His guests?
- Describe the Day of the Lord.
- What does the prophet urge the nation to do?
- Why should the faithful of Jerusalem rejoice?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- God will punish those who fill their master’s house with:
a) money b) lies c) fruits d) violence - (Zephaniah 1:14) The great day of the LORD is near; it is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the Day of the LORD is bitter; there the mighty men shall cry out. Who said this?
- What will the people do with a pure language?
- (Zephaniah 3:17) "The LORD your God is in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." What does this mean?
Week 10: Haggai
Objective:
-
The Command to Build God’s House
-
The People’s Obedience
-
The Coming Glory of God’s House
-
Promised Blessing
-
Zerubbabel Chosen as a Signet
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Haggai 1
- Haggai 2
Key verse(s):
"I will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2:23
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
Comments:
Theme of Haggai: The restoration of the Temple
Messianic Prophecy: The Desire of All Nations (2:7)
- Haggai means "festive or My feast"
- Haggai was one of the three minor prophets who appeared after the return from exile
- Haggai started his prophecy before Zechariah the prophet
- The prophet Haggai is known only from this book and two other references to him in Ezra 5:1 and 6:14.
- Haggai returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel and lived in Jerusalem
- Haggai and Zechariah prophesied at the same time and both encouraged the people to continue building the Temple (Ezra 5)
- People had started rebuilding the Temple then stopped (Ezra 5)
-
The destruction of Jerusalem had humbled a once-proud people and they were influenced by the Persian view of all religions as equal in value.
-
The postexilic prophets ministered to discouraged and apathetic people who were tempted to believe that nothing they did made any difference from a religious standpoint.
- Haggai 1:
- V.1 Darius is a Persian King. The Israelites returned during the Persian kingdom
- V.2 The people quit rebuilding God's house and started building their own houses
- This is like the people who leave God and the Church and focus only on their work, school, job, family, etc.
- V.3 "Consider your ways" is a warning and to be attentive
- V.6 They did many things, but there are no blessings
- V.7-8 Invitation to return to God
- They thought that they couldn't rebuild another Temple that was as glorious as Solomon's Temple. God reassured them that He was awaiting on this new Temple and that He will glorify it
- It is a beautiful message that God is looking at the heart of the giver and not the gift
- V.12-15 Show the people's obedience after they heard God's words from Haggai
- After the people got scared of not following God's ways, God wanted to encourage them (V.13 "I am with you")
- God is like a good father who threatens his children to improve and become more serious but doesn't leave them all the way and returns to encourage them
- Haggai 2:
- V.6 "a little while" means that God's coming is not too far. We should be ready and waiting for him
- Haggai called God the "Desire of all nations"
- A prophecy that God will be desired and sought by all nations (not just Jews)
- A prophecy on God's acceptance of the Gentiles
- V.8-9 show that God has everything and He can provide His people with everything and sustain them if they return to Him
- V.23 The book ends with a special and joyful message
- The Royal Signet at that time represented huge importance and value as who owned this signet was someone who was in charge and owned the kingdom
- God will give His servants the kingdom and will make them heirs
- God's message to His people: "I have chosen you"
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- Give verse that proof God will be with His people.
- With what will God fill this temple?
- Why did the temple look as nothing in the eyes of some people?
- Who was chosen as a signet ring?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- Who was high priest at the time of Haggai?
a) Zerrubabbel b) Joshua c) Darius d) Shealtiel - God asked the people to bring ______ to build the temple
a) Gold b) silver d) wood d) all of those - God will fill the temple with
a) gold b) silver d) wood d) glory - God said He will make Zerubbabel
a) king b) signet ring c) prophet d) prince
Week 11: Zechariah - 1
Zechariah 1-7
Objective:
-
Vision of the Horses
-
The Lord Will Comfort Zion
-
Vision of the Horns
-
Vision of the Measuring Line
-
Future Joy of Zion and Many Nations
-
Vision of the High Priest
-
The Coming Branch
-
Vision of the Lampstand and Olive Trees
-
Vision of the Four Chariots
-
Obedience Better than Fasting
-
Disobedience Resulted in Captivity
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Zechariah 1:7-21
- Zechariah 2:1-13
- Zechariah 3:1-10
- Zechariah 4
- Zechariah 6:1-8
- Zechariah 7
Key verse(s):
"‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
NOTE TO SERVANT:
- Zechariah will be divided into two parts to be covered over two weeks:
- Week 1: Ch.1-7 --> Zechariah's visions
- Week 2: Ch.9-14 --> Zechariah's prophecies
Comments:
Theme of Zechariah: The coming of God's kingdom
Messianic Prophecy: Entering Jerusalem (9:9), Thirty pieces of silver (11:12), His wounds (13:6), The piercing (12:10), The suffering shepherd (13:7)
- Zechariah means "Jehovah remembers"
- Zechariah was one of the three minor prophets who appeared after the return from exile
- Zechariah started his prophecy before Haggai the prophet by only a few months
-
As the son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo, he came from one of the priestly families of the tribe of Levi
-
He was born in Babylon and was brought by his grandfather to Palestine when the Jewish exiles returned under Zerubbabel
-
Zechariah uses a series of eight visions, four messages, and two burdens to portray God's plans for His people
- The book is second to Isaiah in prophecies
- The book is second to Ezekiel in visions
- The book can be broken down into three parts:
- Part 1: Ch. 1-6: Visions
- Part 2: Ch. 7-8: Fasting
- Part 3: Ch. 9-14: Messianic Prophecies
- The book has some clear prophecies about Christ:
- Entering Jerusalem (9:9)
- Thirty pieces of silver (11:12)
- His wounds (13:6)
- The piercing (12:10)
- The suffering shepherd (13:7)
- Zechariah 1:
- Vision of the Horses
- The angels came and surveyed the earth and went back to God (the man riding on a red horse who stood among the myrtle trees)
- Man riding a red horse is similar to the one in Revelation
- The angles reported to God that the earth was ready for Him to come
- Zechariah 1:12: The Son is talking to the Father
- Vision of the Horns
- V.19: The four kingdoms that ruled over them (Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome)
- The four craftsmen: The four evangelists
- They will "coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it"
- They will come to deliver the Good news to people
- Vision of the Horses
- Zechariah 2:
- Vision of the measuring line
- After measuring Jerusalem, the angel found it was very big. This will lead to having a "multitude of men and livestock in it"
- This represents that the earth (Jerusalem) will have no limit to who will be with Christ. This Jerusalem that was able to have everyone, has no walls. God is the one protecting His people and also is in their midset
- This is the Heaven in the book of Revelation "of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues"
- V.6: God is telling the rest of the Israelites to come back from the land of captivity (north) because Jerusalem is big and can fit everyone
- V.8: The Son is telling His people that the Father sent Him to gather everyone (all nations). And "who touches us touches the apple of His eye" means God will protect us
- V.12-13: Talks about the Lord's crucifixion "He is aroused" and saving those who were captives "the Lord will take possession"
- Vision of the measuring line
- Zechariah 3:
- Vision of the High Priest
- Joshua the high priest was being judged in front of God. Satan was there to oppose Joshua
- God defended Joshua and asked the angels to cloth him with new clothes and turban
- The clothe resemble Joshua's sin, and the new clothes represent God forgiving his sins and clothing him with new clothes
- V.10:
- Servant: Christ took the form of man and looked like a servant
- Branch: it's the same meaning as "Nazarene"
- Stone: He is the chief corner stone
- All these three titles are Messianic prophecies that were fullfiled by Christ
- Vision of the High Priest
- Zechariah 4:
-
Vision of the Lampstand and Olive Trees
- Lampstand = Church
- Gold = Pure - Heavenly
- Bowl = Christ
- Lamps = Sacraments
- Seven = Complete number
- Source of oil = Two olive trees
- The lampstand represents the Church that is full of oil Which is the Holy Spirit. The works of the Holy Spirit in the church is complete/perfect (seven) through the sacraments (lamps). Works of the Church is always connect with Christ (Bowl). The two olive trees are the source of the oil that tell us the source is a heavenly and continous source.
- V.7: A comforting verse to Zerubabel and us that God will transform any mountain (problem/sorrow) to a plain (solution/joy/blessing)
- V.14: The verse shows the three hypostases.
- God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (the two olive trees) will fill the Church (Lampstand) with the spiritual heavenly works.
-
- Zechariah 5:
-
Vision of the Flying Scroll
-
Vision of the Woman in a Basket
- Not discussed
-
- Zechariah 6:
- Vision of the Four Chariots
- Red Horses: Babylonian kingdom
- Was already defeated in history at the time of Zechariah. That is why it was not mentioned again
- Black Horses: Persian kingdom
- Going up North = Going North to defeat Babylon
- White Horses: Greek kingdom
- Dappled Horses: Roman kingdom
- Bronze mountains = Strong mountains
- The four horses came out of the Bronze Mountains. These are the four kingdoms that ruled over the world in the OT before the coming of Christ. Bronze means that God's will and judgments are firm and unchangeable.
- We learn that everything that happens in the world is God's will. He allows kingdoms to rule and things to happen for our purification and salvation. He is strong and in control of everything (Pantocrator).
- Red Horses: Babylonian kingdom
- Vision of the Four Chariots
- Zechariah 7:
- The chapters discuss the spirituality of the fast
- V.4-5
- They asked about fasting about the fifth month, but God answered regarding the fifth and seventh months
- God does not want (or wait) for our fast. We fast because we need to show our meekness and humility and because of our sins. We humble ourselves in front of Him through our fast.
- V.6
- When we eat or fast we do it for ourselves, not for God
- God is reminding us that even when we eat or break our fast, we should do it with the spirit of Thanksgiving
- When we eat or fast we do it for ourselves, not for God
- V.7 - God is reminding them that he had spoken to them about these things through His prophets who told them that there are consequences to their sin
- V.8-10 - God is reminding them to be fair in their judgments
- V. 11 - "shrugged their shoulders" means they refused to listen to God and the prophets
- This chapter can be summarized that God wants mercy not sacrifice. God wants the heart to fast and repent, not just fast from food and show our supplications only on the outside without changing our heart.
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- CHAPTER 1
- What do the colored horses represent and who is the one riding on the red horse?
- Who do the horns and the craftsmen represent?
- CHAPTER 2
- Why measure Jerusalem? And where else in the Holy Bible was this mentioned?
- Why should Zion flee from the hand of the North?
- CHAPTER 3
- Why the filthy garment?
- Who is the BRANCH?
- CHAPTER 4
- Who are the anointed ones?
- CHAPTER 6
- How did God’s Spirit find rest in the North?
- CHAPTER 7
- What commandments did the people refuse to obey?
- What was God’s reply when asked about fasting? Explain. What do we personally learn about fasting from this chapter?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- CHAPTER 1
- In Zechariah’s vision the man was riding:
a) a donkey b) a red horse c) a white horse - God’ house shall be built in: a) the temple
b) the North c) Jerusalem d) Samaria
- In Zechariah’s vision the man was riding:
- CHAPTER 2
- The Lord said that he who touches Zion touches:
a) His heart b) His head c) the apple of His eye d) His Son - "And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His ________ in the _________ _______, and will again choose __________."
- The Lord said that he who touches Zion touches:
- CHAPTER 3
- "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'If you will walk in My ______, And if you will keep My _______, Then you shall also judge My ______, And likewise have charge of My ________."
- In that day,' says the LORD of Hosts, '________ will invite his _______ under his vine and under his ______ _______.
- CHAPTER 4
- Whose hands laid the foundation of the temple?
a) Zachariah b) God c) Zerubbabal d) the servant - The lampstand was made of
a) gold b) silver c) bronze d) copper
- Whose hands laid the foundation of the temple?
- CHAPTER 5
- What will God send out to the house of the thief?
a) gifts b) a letter c) a prophecy d) a curse - The woman sitting in the basket represents:
a) the mother b) wickedness c) poverty d) Jerusalem
- What will God send out to the house of the thief?
- CHAPTER 7
- For how many years of exile did the people fast on the 5th and 7th months
a) 10 b) 30 c) 70 - "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Do not oppress------."
a) the widow b) the fatherless c) the poor d)all of these
- For how many years of exile did the people fast on the 5th and 7th months
Week 12: Zechariah - 2
Zechariah 9-14
Objective:
-
The Coming King
-
Restoration of Judah and Israel
-
Desolation of Israel
-
Prophecy of the Shepherds
-
Mourning for the Pierced One
-
The Shepherd Savior
-
The Day of the Lord
-
The Nations Worship the King
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Zechariah 9:9-10
- Zechariah 10:4
- Zechariah 11:4-13
- Zechariah 12:9-14
- Zechariah 13:6-9
- Zechariah 14:1-9
Key verse(s):
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you” Zechariah 9:9
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
NOTE TO SERVANT:
- Zechariah will be divided into two parts to be covered over two weeks:
- Week 1: Ch.1-7 --> Zechariah's visions
- Week 2: Ch.9-14 --> Zechariah's prophecies
Comments:
Theme of Zechariah: The coming of God's kingdom
Messianic Prophecy: Entering Jerusalem (9:9), Thirty pieces of silver (11:12), His wounds (13:6), The piercing (12:10), The suffering shepherd (13:7)
- Zechariah means "Jehovah remembers"
- Zechariah was one of the three minor prophets who appeared after the return from exile
- Zechariah started his prophecy before Haggai the prophet by only a few months
-
As the son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo, he came from one of the priestly families of the tribe of Levi
-
He was born in Babylon and was brought by his grandfather to Palestine when the Jewish exiles returned under Zerubbabel
-
Zechariah uses a series of eight visions, four messages, and two burdens to portray God's plans for His people
- The book is second to Isaiah in prophecies
- The book is second to Ezekiel in visions
- The book can be broken down into three parts:
- Part 1: Ch. 1-6: Visions
- Part 2: Ch. 7-8: Fasting
- Part 3: Ch. 9-14: Messianic Prophecies
- The book has some clear prophecies about Christ:
- Entering Jerusalem (9:9)
- Thirty pieces of silver (11:12)
- His wounds (13:6)
- The piercing (12:10)
- The suffering shepherd (13:7)
- Zechariah 9
- V.9-10: A prophecy on Palm Sunday when the Lord entered Jerusalem as a king
- Zechariah 10
- V. 4: Christ is the Chief cornerstone (Acts 4:11 - Ephesians 2:19-22 - Matthew 21:42)
- Zechariah 11
- V.4 The shepherds are not taking care of the people. The shepherds mislead the people
- V.7 God took two staffs (The Cross). Beauty and Bonds are God's two characteristics of Mercy and Judgment.
- v.8 the "three shepherding" are thought by the Fathers to be the Pharisees, Scribes, and Chief Priests who were dismissed by the "Two staffs - the Cross"
- V.10-12 They rejected Christ and did not accept His mission. The staff is broken because they rejected Him. God respected their wishes of denying them and asked them to give him His wages for all the years that he cared for them and guided them. So they calculated His wages and it was 30 pieces of silver.
- V.13: After Judas gave them the money back, they took it and bought a potter’s field (Matt. 27:1-8)
- Zechariah 12
- V.10- God will fill them with His Spirit of grace and supplication, but they will pierce Him
- A prophecy that they will pierce Him
- V.10- God will fill them with His Spirit of grace and supplication, but they will pierce Him
- Zechariah 13
- V.6 A prophecy on His wounds and the nails in His hands
- V.7-8 When the Lord was on the Cross "Strike the Shephard", the disciples ran away "Sheep will be scattered"
- This was mentioned in Matthew 26:31
- Zechariah 14
- V.4 The Ascension from the Mountain of Olives
- A symbolic meaning that God's Glory will split the mountain in two - shows the power of God
- V.5 The Lord will come back with His saints - The second coming
- V.6 Prophecy on Darkness on Good Friday
- V.6-9 The Day of the Cross - Good Friday
- V.8 God will extend His love and mercy to bring people together from east and west
- V.4 The Ascension from the Mountain of Olives
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- CH.9
- Find a prophecy in this chapter that was fulfilled in the New Testament. Give verse.
- CH.10
- What does the Lord promise His flock the House of Judah?
- CH. 11
- What do the 30 pieces of silver represent? And what do they remind you of?
- Who are the three shepherds that were dismissed?
- CH.12
- Find a prophecy in this chapter fulfilled in the New Testament. Give verse.
- CH.13
- Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. Who quoted this verse and on what occasion
- CH. 14
- Who are the saints that will come with the Lord?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- The king of Israel will come riding on:
a) a horse b) a mule c) a colt d) a car - The LORD their God will ______ them in that day, as the _______ of His people. For they shall be like the ________ of a crown, lifted like a ________ over His ________.
- The people were in trouble because there is no:
a) king b) prophet c) priest d) shepherd - "So I will __________ them in the LORD, and they shall _______ up and down in His _______," Says the LORD."
- The names of Zechariah’s staffs were _________ and __________.
- How much was the wage given to Zechariah?
a) 30 pieces of silver b) 30 pieces of gold c) 10 pieces of silver d) a crown - "Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; then I will turn My hand against the little ones." Who were the sheep?
- They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; and each one will say, 'The LORD is my God." Who will call God's Name?
Week 13: Malachi
Objective:
-
Polluted Offerings to God
-
Corrupt Priests
-
The Coming Messenger
-
Do Not Rob God
-
The Great Day of God
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS
Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?
Reading:
- Malachi 1
- Malachi 2:10-17
- Malachi 3
- Malachi 4
Key verse(s):
"Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me.” Malachi 3:1
NOTE TO SERVANT:
-
Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
- The theme for last week's minor prophet
- Highlight Messianic prophecy
- Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
Minor Prophets introduction:
-
The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.
- Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
- There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
- In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
- The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
- In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy.
- All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
- Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
- Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
- During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
- After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
- The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
- The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
- The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
- All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
-
Minor Prophets |
||
Before Assyrian Captivity Directed to the North Kingdom |
After Assyrian and before Babylonian captivities Directed to the South Kingdom |
After Captivity |
1. Hosea 2. Joel 3. Amos 4. Obadiah (Edom) 5. Jonah |
6. Micah 7. Nahum (Nineveh) 8. Habakkuk 9. Zephaniah |
10. Haggai 11. Zechariah 12. Malachi |
Comments:
Theme of Malachi: The coming of God's kingdom
Messianic Prophecy: St. John the Baptist preparing the way before the Messiah (3:1)
- Malachi means "My Messanger/angel"
- Malachi was one of the three minor prophets who appeared after the return from exile
- Malachi was the last prophet before the NT
- He appeared about 400 years before Christ
- He prophesied about the prophet coming after him to prepare the way
- The prophet is St. John the Baptist
- Nehemiah led the third and final returning wave from captivity
- After he finished his ministry and built the walls, he returned to the King as he promised him before leaving (Nehemiah 1)
- After he finished his ministry and built the walls, he returned to the King as he promised him before leaving (Nehemiah 1)
- Malachi appeared when Nehemiah left the people
- The people were living in prosperity at that time, so they fell into the sin of 'lukewarmness'
- Chapter 1
- V.2 “I have loved you” summarizes the OT and God's relationship with mankind. He loved us which is why he came for us, did miracles for us, sent the Israelites to captivity and brought them back, etc.
- The book has questions from the people to God that show their lukewarmness
- Question 1: Mal. 1:2- Questioning how God loved them
- One way to avoid lukewarmness is to remember God's mercy in our lives and always to give thanksgiving
- Question 2: Mal. 1:6- Questioning God's sovereignty and honor
- Getting used to the thing leads to lukewarmness sometimes. One way to avoid lukewarmness is to remember God's honor and always have God's fear in our hearts
- Question 3: Mal. 1:10- God is questioning their spiritual life
- They pray in the Temple, but not at their homes
- Lukewarmness is shown in praying with groups but not alone at home
- Malachi 1:11: A prophecy that the Gentiles will be accepted in the NT. The incense was only offered in the Temple only. It also shows the use of incense in the worship
- Question 4: Mal. 1:13
- Lukewarmness is shown in the signs of being weary and complaining
- Avoiding the urge to complain and realizing God's blessings in our lives is a way of defeating lukewarmness
- Question 1: Mal. 1:2- Questioning how God loved them
- Chapter 2
- Question 5: Mal. 2:14
- Lukewarmness is shown in breaking the law
- Having a 'favorite' sin in our hearts leads to lukewarmness. Certain sins, lusts, wrong feelings, etc lead to lukewarmness
- God used marriage as a sin where the consequences will last for a long time
- This part shows the holiness of marriage and what God intended for the couple. It is a covenant, not a contract
- Lukewarmness is shown in breaking the law
- V.16: Shows that God doesn’t like divorce and in certain cases, it is the last resort as a solution
- Question 6: Mal. 2:17
- Lukewarmness is shown in not realizing God's judgment and thinking that God doesn't reward the rights and judge the sinners. It's the way of thinking the world has no one in control and that the righteous and the sinners are 'just living' and no rewards/consequences
- Lukewarmness can be avoided if the person realizes his/her faults and always ask God for His mercy and forgiveness
- Question 5: Mal. 2:14
- Chapter 3
- A famous chapter where Malachi prophesies about the prophet coming after him: St. John the Baptist
- St. John the Baptist is the angel coming before God to prepare the way (people) as mentioned in Mark 1:1
- Question 7: Mal. 3:7
- Lukewarmness in the spiritual life can result from drifting away from tradition and from what the Church, as mothers, taught us to do. Thinking the church is old, God is not important, or the Clergy does not know anything causes lukewarmness.
- Question 8: Mal. 3:8
- We feel lukewarm towards God when we don't give the tithes. When we feel that God needs our tithes, not that we need to give, the heart becomes lukewarm.
- Bringing the tithes (10%) is the beginning of giving. God wants the people to show their love. "Try me" means see what I will do to reward your love.
- Question 9: Mal. 3:13
- Lukewarmness is shown when people are harsh in their language with God. People think serving God is useless. Instead of feeling that we need to serve God for our edification, we take it as a burden and think it has no fruits/rewards. The same applies to prayers, fasting, repentance, etc.
- Question 7: Mal. 3:7
- Chapter 4
- V.1 The day of judgment will make the proud and the wicked be like stubble
- V.2 The same day for the righteous will be a day of light and healing
- Our Lord Jesus Christ "The Sun of Righteousness" in the second coming will judge the wicked and reward the righteous. That day will bring healing and good news for the righteous who were waiting for this day.
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- Where incense shall be offered to God’s Name?
- What did the priests offer on God’s Altar?
- What does God say about divorce?
- In what did the people rob the Lord?
- Who is the messenger that will prepare the way? Give a verse from the New Testament to support your answer.
- Who will arise with healing in His wings?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- For from the rising of the ______, even to its going down, My ______ shall be great among the _________; in every place________ shall be offered to My name, and a pure ________."
- For I am a great _______," Says the LORD of hosts, "And My _______ is to be feared among the __________."
- The lips of the priest should keep:
a) praise b) knowledge c) lies d) jokes - What was written before the Lord?
a) the Holy Bible b) prophecies c) a book of remembrance d) letters - Then you shall again discern between the ________ and the wicked, between one who _________ God and ______ who does not serve Him.
- But to you who fear My name The __________ ______ ___________ shall arise with healing in His _______.
- Behold, I will send you _______ the prophet before the coming of the _______ and dreadful ________ of the ________.
Poetry 1
Ecclesiastes
Objective:
-
The Vanity of Life
-
The Grief of Wisdom
-
The Vanity of Pleasure
-
Everything Has Its Time
-
The Value of a Friend
-
Wealth Is Not the Goal of Life
Resources:
Reading:
- Ecclesiastes 1
- Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
- Ecclesiastes 6
- Ecclesiastes 12
Key verse(s):
“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”" Ecclesiastes 12:1
Comments:
- The name "Ecclesiastes" is derived from the Greek word ekklesia ("assembly") and means "one who addresses an assembly."
- ekklesia also means 'Church'
- The author is Solomon as referenced in (1:1) at the end of his life
- The book stresses on one main concept: All is vanity
- Ecclesiastes completes Proverbs:
- Proverbs: Focuses on how to behave and live wisely
- Ecclesiastes: Talks about life from the endpoint
- Church Fathers consider this book as Solomon's repentance after the days he spent away from God
- The books help us to look forward to the heavens and not care too much for the earth
- Chapter 1:
- V.3 Man's labor who is away from God and laboring in earthly things
- V.4-6 Life continues and every generation goes without learning from the previous generation. We learn to do their good deeds and avoid their sins/mistakes
- V.7 man is never full or satisfied
- Chapter 2:
- Testing joy/pleasure
- His ways of joy were not good
- He walked in ungodly ways and still found no gain
- He acquired many and all things in life, but never found a real gain
- V.11 "grasping for the wind" means that whatever we try to get or hold on in life is like holding air and no real gain. That's why the Church always tells us to hold onto the Heavenly things because they are not 'air'
- Chapter 3:
- Time
- Everything has a certain time and it will end
- Nothing on earth is everlasting - Heavens is eternal
- It is wise to understand that when a person is happy, triumphant, sad, or down, he shall understand that these will not continue
- V.11 Shows that God has timing for everything. For us, there's time for the beginnings, time for the ends, and things seem unclear sometimes. But for God, everything has a time, and he "Everything beautiful in its time". The way to understand all these things is to get out of the worldly timing and look at the heavens and eternal life. Things happen in our lives for eternal life - This should be the way of one's thinking process.
- Chapter 4:
- The value of a Godly friend/companion
- Chapter 6:
- This chapter can be summarized as: Wealth is not the goal of life
- Money is important for supporting us to have the means of living and not committing certain sins (stealing, lying, etc.)
- We are to work hard and study hard to get a degree for better jobs to support ourselves to be able to be sufficient, avoid falling into certain,n sins, sustain ourselves and our families, give to the poor, and glorify God in everything else we do. "Fill our hearts with joy and gladness, that we toom having sufficiency is everything always, may abound in every good deed" Liturgy of St. Basil
- Chapter 12:
- V.1 Remember God when you have time, energy, and health, before the end of time comes when you can't give, don't have time, or no health to serve or go to church
- V.2-5 show how people at old age see a decline in physical health and activities
- V.5 Solomon understands that life is not the end. We are currently in our temporary tent as St. Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:1
- V.13-14 The conclusion of the book and Solomon's life. Also the conclusion for man's life on earth
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- How do generations compare to the earth cycle?
- What did the preacher communed with his heart?
- What great works did the preacher undertake?
- Why are two better than one?
- “Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well.” Explain.
- Vanity of vanities. The word vanity was repeated several times in this Book. Can you tell how many times and what is the essence of repeating it?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- What is crooked cannot be made __________, and what is __________ cannot be numbered.
- For in much ___________ is much grief, and he who increases __________ increases sorrow.
- What did the preacher make for himself?
a) gardens b) orchards c) water pools d) all of these - What does God give to the man who is good in His sight?
a) money b) kingdom c) wisdom d) knowledge - To everything there is a _________, a _______ for every purpose under _________.
- "God shall _________ the righteous and the _______, for there is a time there for every ___________ and for every __________."
- Better a _______ and wise ________ than an old and foolish _________ who will be admonished no more
- Better is the sight of the _________ than the wandering of __________. This also is vanity and grasping for the _________.
Song of Songs
Objective:
-
The Banquet
-
The Beloved’s Request
-
A Troubled Night
-
The Coming of Solomon
-
The Bridegroom Praises the Bride
-
The Shulamite’s Troubled Evening
-
Praise of the Shulamite’s Beauty
-
Lovers Reunited at Their Country Home
Resources:
Reading:
- Chapter 1: 1-15
- Chapter 2: 1-15
- Chapter 3: 1-5
- Chapter 4: 1:15
- Chapter 7: 1-9
Key verse(s):
“Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters” Song of Songs 2:2
Comments:
- The Song of Solomon is a love song abounding in metaphors and oriental imagery.
- It depicts the God’s love towards His Church
- The Book is arranged like scenes in a drama with different speakers and the chorus
- In the Bible, God’s love was allegorically depicted as a relationship between a bridegroom and his bride
- OT: Isiah – Jeremiah – Ezekiel – Hosea
- NT: 2 Corinthians 11 – Ephesians 5 – Revelation – The Parable of Ten Virgins - The Parable of the Wedding Feast - St. John the Baptist
- This book was called "Song of Songs" to show that repeating the word "song" refers to its superiority over the other songs.
- This resembles the saying, "King of kings or Lord of lords, or holy of holies, or Sabbath of sabbaths, or Heaven of heavens or vanity of vanities.
- The Jews understood this book symbolizes the relationship between God (the Bridegroom) and His people (the bride), until the coming of the Messiah.
- The Fathers understood this book represents the relationship between the Messiah the Savior and His Church the bride
- We notice that the bridegroom is always good, without any mistakes/sins, and a king. This is because it symbolizes our Lord.
-
Characters of the Book
The Bridegroom
Our Lord Jesus Christ who betrothed the church a holy bride for Him
The Bride
Name: Shulamite
The Universal Church, or the believer as a living member of the Church
The Virgins
The believers who have not yet attained the spiritual depth, but have achieved some progress on the road of salvation
The Daughters of Jerusalem
The Jewish nation, which should have preached the Messiah the Savior of the world
The Friends of the Bridegroom
The angels who attained the perfect man
The Young Sister
The humanity who need the Lord Jesus Christ to serve and care for her
- If the book is literal, this bride will never be a real human!
- Chapter 1:
- V.2: "Let him kiss me" The bride wants to return to God. Asking God to accept her
- God's mouth always contains blessings and joyful words. His kisses are messages of love and hope
- V.3: "Therefore the virgins love you" The bride is happy that her friends and everyone around her go to God. The meaning will never be realistic if literal. No bride wants her friends to love her beloved!
- V.4: "Run after you" The works of salvation. God's grace accepted her, but she had to do the work.
- "Rightly do they love you" she confesses that God's love is worth the love
- V.5: Dark because of sins. Lovely because God still loves us. He hates the sin.
- V.6: People and the busyness of life make us forget to watch our vineyard. We get busy with people and sometimes service, activities, etc. But we don't focus on our spiritual life.
- V.15: Shows how God looks at human souls.
- V.2: "Let him kiss me" The bride wants to return to God. Asking God to accept her
- Chapter 2:
- V.2: The bridegroom is saying that his beloved is special among all people. This is how God look at the repentant soul as a lily among the thorns (world).
- V.6: Shows that God will embrace the repentant soul when returns to him
- V.15: The large foxes are noticeable and can be caught. The little foxes enter through the wall and eat the vines. They are overlooked until the foxes grow up from eating the vines. These are like little sins that we sometimes don't think it is a sin or a big deal and are never caught until they cause a bigger problem or death.
- Chapter 3: 1-5
- She walked out by night (middle of struggles, tribulations, and hardships) to look for God. She went to the city (world) to look for him, but he was not in the common places of the world where people always go. She found the watchmen (servants and clergy) and they instructed her where to go. Note that the watchmen went and found her. Shortly after God's servants told her where to go to find him (Church) she successfully found him. She then brings all her friends and family back with her to Christ and instructs them to not (awaken Him) with their sins or unfaithfulness. This means: "We forgot and ended the past, let's not return to them.
- Chapter 4:
- Spouse and sister will never apply to a real physical marriage
- Eyes: Dove-> simplicity
- Hair: God’s people sticking to the head (God)
- Lips: Scarlet -> Eucharist
- Neck: The tower of David was high –> can differentiate and see the enemy from afar.
- 1000 is a heavenly infinity number
- Breasts: 2-> OT and NT. Twins: Equal in importance and value. The Church feeds her people from the Bible
- Fawns have sharp vision: After the Bible, we gain discernment
- Friday Theotokia: He held to your breasts and you fed him. Breasts= mother aka feeding/giving
- Teeth: Servants who eat and provide for service. Teeth grow and erupt when the person grows spiritual maturity.
- Shorn sheep wool/fleece means no sin. Servants take off sins, bad habits, etc.
- Nose: Tower of Lebanon –> She can recognize from afar the temptations of worldly pleasures
- Temple: pomegranate-> red from shyness and shame of sin
- Lips: Honey -> the praises of bride.
- Honey is a product of hard-working bees. Servants' hardworking fruits
- Feet: Feet of peace (Eph.6). She walks in the way of God’s word, way of repentance
- Curves=joints. The entire body of Christ is connected. The beauty of church is in her oneness.
- Curves are strong and fast in her return to God.
- Thighs: connect upper and lower halves -> Victorious churches and struggling churches
- Naval: The umbilical cord is cut. Cut from the world-beginning of a new life (opposite in Ez.16)
- Rounded = no beginning or end like all heavenly blessings. She became Heavenly
- Spouse and sister will never apply to a real physical marriage
- Chapter 7:
- The bride returns once more to her beloved. After she returns, her beloved praises her again with similar descriptions.
- V.1: Shows her fast approach in returning to her beloved. The soul speeds back to God.
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- In this Book there was no literal mention of God so, why was it included in the Holy Bible? What does this Book represent? What other Book in the Holy Bible did not mention a word about God?
- “I am dark, but lovely” Explain
- What do the foxes in verse 15 refer to?
- Why call a spouse “my sister”?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- Who made the Shulamite keeper of the vineyards?
a) the vinedresser b) the Lord c) her mother’s sons d) her mother - What does the Shulamite have around her neck?
a) a scarf b) chains of gold c) a cross d) chains of silver - The Shulamite describes herself as:
a) a rose b) a lily c) both - My beloved is ________, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the _________
Wisdom of Solomon
Objective:
- The Incarnation of the Wisdom
- The Divinity of Christ
- Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom
-
Wisdom with the Old Testament Saints
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
- SUS Might Arrows
Reading:
- Chapter 2: 1-25
- Chapter 7: 26-30
- Chapter 9: 1-18
Key verse(s):
“For God loves none but those who dwell with wisdom” Wisdom 7:28
Reading can be from OSB.
Comments:
- The Book is one of the Deuterocanonical Books
- It has been canonized in our Church and it is one of the Poetic Books
- Solomon is the author and it can be testified from the Book for these reasons:
- The same eloquent and profound poetic style found in Solomon's other books
- It is placed in the same order as Solomon's other books
- Mentioned himself in (Wisdom 9:7-12)
- The Book is found in the Septuagint
- Many Church fathers affirmed the Book's canonicity like: St. Clement of Alexandria, St. Augustine, St. Athanasius, and St. Irenaeus.
- The Book talks about the Logos and His incarnation, His work of salvation, and His passion
- Breakdown:
- Chapters 1-9: Wisdom in life with people
- Chapter 10-19: Wisdom in humanity with God's people in the Old Testament
- Chapter 2:
- V. 1 The ungodly say that there is no eternal life.
- V.12-25: Talk about our Lord Jesus and how people viewed Him
- V.13 Accurate prophecy on our Lord Jesus Christ
- V.14 The Lord knew their thoughts like the incident of the Paralytic man
- V.18: This was mentioned at the Crucifixion
- V.19-20: Talk about the Crucifixion
- V.25 "The Same as the Reconciliation prayer in the Liturgy of St. Basil"
- Proves the canonicity of the Book
- Chapter 7:26-30
- Talks about the Divinity of Christ
- V.28: God will not accept someone unless he is attached to Christ
- Talks about the Divinity of Christ
- Chapter 9:
- V. 1: God the Father created all things through His Son
- V. 4: Solomon is not asking for wisdom (trait), but the Wisdom of God. This is the Logos to live in Him
- V.6: No one is good or perfect except if he has our Lord Jesus Christ
- V.7-12: Talks about Solomon
- V.8: He built the Temple according to the pattern of the Tabernacle which Moses built as God Himself showed him
- V.9: A Theological explanation that the Wisdom - God the Son - the Logos was present from the beginning of time. The Divine Timelessness of God the Son.
- V.10: God's incarnation
- V.16: Shows our limitations as humans. We can't understand everything on earth, so by default, we can't understand the heavens!
- Chapters 10-19: Talks about how the wisdom carried the Old Testament saints. Encourage the youth to read at home
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- When did our Lord read the people's thoughts?
- Show a verse that is mentioned in the Divine Liturgy.
- Chapter 9: Show verses that mention God's Divinity
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- "For she is the breath of the ..... of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the .....: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her." Wisdom 7:25
- "And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon ........., and with labour do we find the things that are before us: but the things that are in ........ who hath searched out?" Wisdom 9:16
Proverbs
Objective:
-
The Beginning of Knowledge
-
The Value of Wisdom
-
Guidance for the Young
Resources:
Reading:
- Chapter 1: 1-7
- Chapter 2: 1-22
- Chapter 3: 1-35
- Chapter 5: 1-14
- Chapter 6: 6-11
Key verse(s):
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” Proverbs 9:10
Encourage the youth to read the rest of the Book.
One chapter a day = Finishing the Book in 1 month.
Activity along reading: Identify Synonyms and Antithetical Parallelism.
Comments:
- The Book is very easy to understand and digest
- The Book talks about the heavenly wisdom attained from above
- The Book always compares the wise vs folly decisions and the wise vs foolish
- This helps understand the rewards vs consequences of decisions
- Wisdom in this book only means abiding by God - Not the intelligent and clever person
-
Proverbs provides God’s detailed instructions for His people to deal successfully with the practical affairs of everyday life: how to relate to God, parents, children, neighbors, and government
- Proverbs include oracles by the unknown figures named Agur the son of Jakeh (30:1) and King Lemuel (31:1).
- Hebrew Poetry and Proverbs are often written in two lines of equal length. This is called "Parallelism". There are two types of parallelism:
- Type 1: Synonomys parallelism
- Same thought in both lines
- "Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares" Proverbs 1:20
- Type 2: Antithetic parallelism
- Contrast - Opposite thought
- "The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot" Proverbs 10:7
- Type 1: Synonomys parallelism
-
Chapter 1:
-
V.2: Wisdom = Godly wisdom attained from above not being clever or intelligent
- V.7: Key verse of the book. Fearing God is the first sign of wisdom. When you fear Him, you walk in His ways, fear the second coming, fear and avoid sin, etc. This is wisdom!
-
- Chapter 2:
- Value of Wisdom
-
V.1: It is important to "receive" the word. God's messages and signals surround us every day. It is important not just to hear it, but to receive it and do it
-
Chapter 3:
- Guidance for the Young
- V.5: Many youth and young people rely on their understanding and don't have faith in God's ways which leads to a lack of patience.
- V.7: Who imagines himself to be wise, relies on himself, and he who trusts in himself and his wisdom, this contradicts complete faith in God
- V.9: God gave the blessing and the increase. Let us honor Him and His people who are in need.
- Chapter 5:
- The consequences of Adultery
- Chapter 6:
- The danger of laziness
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- How are we to gain the understanding of the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God?
- Discuss and compare verse 6 with the Holy Book of St. James 1:5.
- Does trusting God mean ignoring our own common sense?
- What wisdom are we to draw from the ants?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- What is the beginning of knowledge?
a) The obedience of our parents. b) The fear of the Lord. c) The reading of the Holy Bible. d) The attendance of church. - “My son, hear the _________ your father, and do not _________ the _____of your mother”_______.
- According to Proverbs 2, the Lord gives:
a) treasures b) gold c) wisdom d) victory - “So you may walk in the way of ________, and keep to the paths of _________."
- “My son, do not despise the ________ of the Lord, nor detest His ________; for whom the Lord _______ He _______, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”
- According to Proverbs 3, who are we to trust?
a) friends b) God c) our understanding d) knowledge - “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the ______, and He _______ all his paths."
Psalms
Objective:
-
The Way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly
-
The Lord Helps His Troubled People
-
Man’s Treachery and God’s Constancy
-
Praise for the Lord’s Mercies
-
The Lord the Defense of His People
-
A Song of Praise to God Coming in Judgment
-
God the Help of Those Who Seek Him
-
The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked
-
The Hope of the Faithful, and the Messiah’s Victory
Resources:
Reading:
- Psalm 1
- Psalm 3
- Psalm 12
- Psalm 16
- Psalm 37
- Psalm 96
- Psalm 103
- Psalm 121
- Psalm 124
Please read the Psalms in the order mentioned in the notes below.
Key verse(s):
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 34:4
Encourage the youth to read and memorize as many Psalms as they can.
Comments:
- The book of Psalms is the largest and perhaps the most widely used book in the Bible
- The Church organized the Psalms to be prayed at certain hours that parallel them of that hour in Agpeya
- It contains prayer for the full range of human experiences in a very personal and practical way
- It is written over a lengthy period of Israel's history, the tremendous breadth of subject matter in the Psalms includes topics such as jubilation, war, peace, worship, judgment, messianic prophecy, praise, and lament
- The Psalms were set to the accompaniment of stringed instruments and served as the temple hymnbook and devotional guide for the Jewish people (refer to the title of each psalm in the Bible book)
- The Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) uses the Greek term Psalmoi as a title for this book, meaning poems sung to the accompaniment of musical instruments, and this word is the basis for the English terms "psalter" and "psalm".
- "Psalmody" Book of Psalms or Praises
- The Hebrew version has some words different from the Septuagint. That is the reason why we have different words in the Bible from the Agpeya
- Agpeya and all church books: Use the Septuagint
- Bible Books: Hebrew Version
- Psalters:
- King David: 73 Psalms
- Asaph: 12 Psalms
- Sons of Korah: 11 Psalms
- King Solomon: 2 Psalms (72 & 127)
- Moses: 1 Psalm (90)
-
Heman the Ezrahite 1 Psalm
-
Ethan the Ezrahite 1 Psalm
-
The rest are called "Anonymous Psalms" because no author is mentioned or known
- H.H. Pope Shenouda III: "Preserve the Psalms, the Psalms will preserve you."
- Categories of Psalms:
- Individual Psalms:
- God's deliverance: Psalm 12
- Lament Psalms: Psalm 3
- V.5: Messianic prophecy
- Thanksgiving Psalms: Praises God for His gracious acts and mercies toward us. These psalms make us aware of God's blessings and lead us to express our thanks with feeling.
- Psalms 103 - 124
- Enthronement psalms: God's sovereign rule. Through these psalms, we acknowledge God as a powerful Creator and sovereign Lord over all His creation.
- Psalm 96
- Kiahk Ode
- Psalm 96
- Psalms of Ascend: Prayed by the Jews going to the 'uphill' of Jerusalem. Uphill -> Ascend. These are Psalms 120-134
- Psalm 121
- Wisdom Psalms: Instruct the worshiper in the way of wisdom and righteousness
- Psalm 1
- Messianic Psalms: Prophecies on the coming Messiah
- Psalm 16
- V. 10
- Psalm 16
- Individual Psalms:
- Many Psalms are used in the Liturgical prayer and worship in our Coptic Orthodox Church
- Examples:
- A psalm is ready in almost any Liturgical service (Vespers, praises, Matins, Liturgy, Pascha, Crowning and Funeral services, etc.)
- Psalm 118
- Weekend Liturgy Procession of the Lamb
- Psalm 24
- Resurrection feast Enactment
- Psalm 150
- Liturgy Distribution of the Holy Eucharist
- Psalm 50
- Agpeya hours introduction
- All Psalms are read during the making of the holy bread used for services (Orban)
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
Job
Objective:
-
Job and His Family in Uz
-
Satan Attacks Job’s Character
-
Satan Attacks Job’s Health
-
Job’s Three Friends
-
Job Deplores His Birth
-
Job Defends Himself
-
Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends
-
The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job
-
Job’s Response to God
-
Job’s Repentance and Restoration
Resources:
Reading:
- Job 1:1-22
- Job 2:1-13
- Job 3:1-13
- Job 13: 1-5
- Job 32:1-22
- Job 38
- Job 40: 1-5
- Job 42:1-17
Key verse(s):
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21
Comments:
- Job is thought by many scholars to have lived during the time of the Patriarchs (Abraham) or shortly before them. Most scholars agree that Job lived before the time of Exodus.
- Job is a story of a righteous man whom God allowed trials to come on him for his purification. The devil wanted to tempt Job but failed.
- Job suffered from "Self-righteousness". And the trials that the devil conducted (thinking he could break him), God used them for his salvation and edification.
- The Book of the Job is composed of many poems between the characters of the Book.
- Job is the author of the book. Many scholars think that Moses is the one who put the book/story in its poetic format to make it easy for memorization.
- Characters of the book:
- God
- Devil
- Job
- Job's wife
- Job's friends
- Eliphaz
- Bildad
- Zopher
- Elihu
- Breakdown of the book:
- Dilemma and conflict of Job: Ch. 1-3
- Debates of Job and people around him: 3-37
- Deliverance of Job: 38-42
- Ch.1
- Job was a righteous and wealthy man.
- God is happy with his son Job who is faithful and righteous. The devil tells God that Job is living like that only because God blessed him with everything. The devil states that if all the blessings were taken from Job, he would not follow God anymore.
- God allows the devil the tempt Job without touching his soul.
- In one day, Job lost his livestock, servants, and ten children.
- Job thanks God and never loses faith
- He realized that he came empty and will leave the world empty (V.21)
- Ch.2
- Job's health is affected
- His three friends came to support him
- They were silent for 7 days respecting the mournful circumstances he was going through
- V.9-13
- Job's wife accuses him of still being faithful to God, urging him to "curse God and die" after experiencing immense suffering, essentially telling him to give up on God and accept his fate by blaming God for his hardships.
- Job calls her "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks". Losing faith in God and leaving him due to a trial is foolish!
- Ch.3
- Out of weakness and the heavy pressure of trials, Job curses the day of his birth. However, he never deplored God!
- Ch.4-11: His three friends are giving reasons why he is suffering all of this
- Eliphaz: Eliphaz was the first to speak and he argued that Job's suffering was a punishment for his sin. He claimed that the innocent do not suffer and that Job must have done something wrong to deserve such pain
- This is false. God loves his children and only punishes them for their edifying their souls not to see them perish and suffer pain.
- Bildad: He argued that Job's suffering was a result of his own wickedness or the wickedness of his children. He urged Job to repent and seek God's forgiveness.
- This is false. He is speaking without truly understanding God's will, Job's character, or his spiritual life
- Zophar: He was the most harsh of the three friends and accused Job of being arrogant and deceitful. He claimed that Job's suffering was actually less than he deserved and that Job should be grateful for God's mercy.
- This is false. His argument was based on a belief in his own righteousness and a lack of compassion for Job's pain
- Eliphaz: Eliphaz was the first to speak and he argued that Job's suffering was a punishment for his sin. He claimed that the innocent do not suffer and that Job must have done something wrong to deserve such pain
- Ch. 13
- Job defends himself. He mentioned that he is not less than them on knowledge or experience
- He called them:
- Forgers of Lies (13:4)
- Worthless physicians (13:4)
- They would be wise if they stayed silent! (13:5)
- Miserable comforters (16:2)
- Do we act like Job's friends when people around us need our help? or do we support them and remind them of God's love and mercy?!
- Ch. 32
- Elihu the young in age (Job's fourth friend) enters the conversation
- He did not agree with Job or the other three friends in analyzing the situation and trying to find an answer
- He disagreed with Job because he "justified himself rather than God" (V.2)
- He disagreed with his friends as they tried to make up a reason without knowing the truth or understanding God's will (V.3)
- Ch.38
- God asks Job many questions. All of them can be answered with "no" or "I don't know"
- This reveals that anytime we 'accuse' God, we are false about this accusation as we do not know the depth of His wisdom and foreknowledge.
- Ch. 40
- Job realized that God's wisdom and knowledge is far from his understanding
- Ch. 42
- Beautiful ending to the book
- Job realized that all of what happened to him was God's plan to purify him
- V.5: An important realization that Job reached. We all hear about God. We only see Him, know Him, and get closer to Him during trials. Hence, God allows them.
- Job interceded for his friends and God forgave them
- V.10-12: Everything that was taken was returned to Job. Everything was doubled except his children.
- He did not lose them. They only departed to another place (The Heavens!)
- All of what happened to Job, yet he still died "old and full of days."
- Gives us hope that God is in control of everything and everyone (Pantocrator). He has a plan for everyone!
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- Who are the sons of God?
- What was Job’s response to the test and what do we learn from it?
- What do you think of Job’s response to his wife?
- What do you learn about Satan from chapters 1 and 2?
- In his sorrow did Job consider suicide? Give proof.
- How had God lodged in Job?
- Having heard God, what does Job now admit?
- Briefly tell how Job’s friends had misrepresented God.
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- Job had _______ sons.
a) seven b) five c) three - Job possessed:
a) 7000 sheep b) 3000 camels c) 500 yoke of oxen d) all of these - Job's wife wanted him to:
a) worship God b) curse God c) fast - Give the names of Job’s three friends.
- What did Job curse?
a) the day he was born b) his friends c) his luck - Who said, “Why did I not die at birth?"
a) Satan b) Leviathan c) Job - What did Job do for his friends?
a) give them money b) reproach them c) pray for them - Job had _______ sons and ________ daughters.
Wisdom of Sirach
Objective:
-
Faith in God
- Honoring your father and mother
Resources:
Reading:
- Sirach 2: 1-11
- Sirach 3: 1-34
- Sirach 4: 1-11
- Sirach 6: 1-17
- Sirach 24: 1-17
- Sirach 38: 1-15
- Sirach 51: To be prayed at the end as a group prayer
Key verse(s):
“You that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail” Sirach 1:8
Comments:
- Also known as Joshua the Son of Sirach
- The last of the Wisdom Books
- It is the longest of the Wisdom Books
- We read multiple chapters/paragraphs during the Great Lent in our Coptic Lectionary
- Sirach was written close to the Nativity of our Lord
- It was originally written in Hebrew and then translated into Greek
- The Book contains plenty of virtues and practical and reflective wisdom
- Sirach 51 is a thanksgiving prayer by Joshua
- Ch.2
- V.1: When we grow spiritually, the devil will increase the wars as long as we are getting closer to Christ as he wants us to fail
- This is opposite to the people who think that being close to God will prevent temptations from them
- V.5: As gold gets more purified when tried in fire, the man also increases spiritually and gets purified more when he resists the devil
- V.11: God took care of the people before us and took care of us before in our lives, He will not stop!
- V.1: When we grow spiritually, the devil will increase the wars as long as we are getting closer to Christ as he wants us to fail
- Ch.3
- Ch. 2 talks about how to honor your father and mother
- This chapter expands on the commandment that God gave Moses
- V.1: The spiritually wise people come together to form the Church
- V.19-34: Talks about the difference between a pure heart and an unwise heart
- Ch. 4
- V.1-11: The importance of giving donations and supporting those who are in need
- This has to be done with wisdom lest we give money to people who use it in bad/wrong means
- V.11: If you support the poor, you become a child of God
- Ch.6
- The importance of a Godly friend
- V.17: Fearing god = Choosing friends who fear God too = Healthy friendships
- Ch. 24
- The Fathers understand this chapter to be a reference to Christ
- V.5: Begotten from the Father before all ages
- V.7: He is a heavenly God
- V.13: He incarnated as a seed of Jacob
- V.14: He is an Etenral God
- V.17: He was exalted on the Cross in front of multitudes
- Ch. 38
- Medicine and medications are from God
- V.2: God has blessed us with medicine and medications
- V.3: The knowledge of a doctor is a talent that God gave to use for the glory of His name
- V.4: Taking medications is not against the faith. We understand that God blessed us with these. The herbs are created by God that cause the cure
- V.9: Being sick should encourage the person to pray more, not an excuse to not pray
- V.9-12: shows the correct order. You pray and repent first, and then rely on medicine
- V.14: A message to the doctor. Don't forget God's hand and always pray for the patients
- V.15: Sometimes God uses the disease for people to pray and repent (e.g. Covid 19)
- Ch. 51: To be prayed at the end as a group prayer.
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
Revelation
Revelation 1
Revelation 1-3
Objective:
- Vision of the Son of Man
- The Seven Churches
Resources:
Reading:
- Revelation 1
- Revelation 2
- Revelation 3
Key verse(s):
"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works" Revelation 5:2
Comments:
- The word translated “Revelation” means “unveiling.
- The verb simply means “to uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.”
- Apocalypse = Revelation = unveiling = uncover = to make manifest
- The author is St. John the Beloved
-
Author
St. John the Beloved
Place
Patmos during exile
Date
96 AD
Theme
The things which are things which you have seen the things which will take place after this
Key verse
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this-1:19
- St. John was exiled to Patmos when God revealed to him His mysteries
- It is the only writing that St. John mentioned his name in
- Ch. 1
- V.1: God Himself revealed this to us so we can live and benefit
- V.3: A special blessing of this book. "Keep" - know, memorize, and do what is in this Book
- V.5: Testifying the death and resurrection of our Lord. We too shall believe and have faith in His Kingdom
- V.6: He gave us a new nature and the old man is dead. We all became like priests, kings, and prophets of the OT who revived the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit even dwells in us now!
- V.7: Confirmation of the Second coming and Judgment day. Everyone "Every eye" will see Him and be judged
- V.8: He is the beginning and end and everything to us!
- V.9: He did not say that he was exiled in Patmos. This shows that he does not complain about enduring hardships for Christ
- V.10: "The Lord's Day" = Sunday. St. John was filled with the Spirit on Sunday. We too shall seek this by filling ourselves with the Spirit in Liturgy.
- V.11: Confirming the reality of this Book that these Churches existed at that time. The messages can also be understood about the Church through the years
- V.18: God wants to assure us that He is in control of everything and that He is taking care of everything and everyone "Pantocrator"
- V.19: Asked St. John to write so we too can enjoy this with St. John and increase our faith
- Ch. 2-3
- Use the table below to summarize each church
- God knows the works of everyone. This should give us comfort and warning at the same time!
- "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says"
- Critical reminder that we need to listen and analyze what God wants us to do/hear. Everyone has two ears, but only a few people differentiate God's voice and apply it in their lives. This is very important that the Church arranged for this part to be chanted during Bright Saturday
- Ephesus:
- God mentioned the good things first. He then explained to him his faults, then ended with other good things
- He left the days when his zeal for God and service was at their peak before lukewarmness hits
- "the deeds of the Nicolaitans" = They were doing sexually immoral acts. This means the bishop of Ephesus resisted sexual immorality
- Smyrna:
- May appear poor in earthly things, but RICH in faith and Spirit
- "Ten days" A period of time, not necessary 10 of 24hr days
- Some scholars applied this to the 10 Roman emperors who persecuted the Church
- Pergamos:
- Allowed wrong teachings and heresies
- "Doctrine of Balaam" = Sin of adultery (As Balaam suggested in Numbers 22–24)
- "The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans" = Liberal sexual immorality
- This Church suffered from adultery and sexual immorality
- "The hidden manna to eat" = Eternal union with Christ
- "White stone a new name written" = New pure nature with Christ
- "Doctrine of Balaam" = Sin of adultery (As Balaam suggested in Numbers 22–24)
- Allowed wrong teachings and heresies
- Thyatira:
- Thyatira = Theater
- This church shows the looks and works of faith, but inside is empty and sinful
- "eyes like a flame of fire" = God knows the truth and reality behind every work
- "Jezebel" = Some scholars say she is a real person or refers to Ahab's wife (1 Kings)
- She is the one behind sexual immorality, worshipping Baal, and adultery
- God is giving time to the people to repent before His judgment on them. This should give us comfort and warning to keep our lives pure and to repent or to act on our sinful acts and repent.
- Thyatira = Theater
- Sardis:
- "you are alive, but you are dead" = Life of hypocrisy
- We shall "hold fast and repent" because we do not know the hour "I will come upon you as a thief"
- The righteous:
- walk with Me in white
- they are worthy
- "will be clothed in white garments"
- "will not blot out his name from the Book of Life"
- "will confess his name before My Father and before His angels"
- Many good promises for those who keep their lives pure and are steadfast in the faith
- Philadelphia:
- Philadelphia = brotherly love
- The strength of the Church is in the love of her members
- This Church is very strong in faith and received many promises
- V. 3:10: The time of great tribulation and Antichirst
- Laodicea:
- Lukewarmness and hypocrisy
- Christians can be of three types:
- Cold = Away from church. Can be visited and brought back
- Hot = In Church and faithful in his life
- Lukewarm = Neither. Worst type. Thinks he is with God, but really far away from Him. Easy to fall and leave God
- "I will vomit you out of My mouth" = Not being in His kingdom
- V.18: He is poor. But Christ gives freely
- Gold = purity
- "Buy from Me gold refined in the fire" Get a pure repentant life from God Himself
- Ask and you will receive!
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- How is the Lord Jesus Christ described by St. John in this greeting?
- What is said about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ?
- For what does the Lord commend the Church in Ephesus?
- List the promises given in this chapter to those who overcome.
- Which of the seven churches pleased the Lord and were not rebuked by Him?
- What does the Lord counsel the Laodiceans to do?
- Why does God rejects the lukewarm?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- "I am the _______ and the Omega, the __________ and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who ____ to come, the __________."
- How does St. John describe the Son of Man?
- The seven stars are:
a) the churches b) the angels c) the messages d) the lamp stands - "He who has an ______ let him hear what the _______ says to the __________."
- To which church did the Lord promise the crown of life?
a) Ephesus b) Smyrna c) Pergamos d) Thyatira
Revelation 2
Revelation 4-7
Objective:
-
The Throne in Heaven
-
The Lamb Takes the Scroll
-
The 7 Seals
Resources:
Reading:
- Revelation 4
- Revelation 5
- Revelation 6
- Revelation 7
Key verse(s):
"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works" Revelation 5:2
Comments:
- The word translated “Revelation” means “unveiling.
- The verb simply means “to uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.”
- Apocalypse = Revelation = unveiling = uncover = to make manifest
- The author is St. John the Beloved
-
Author
St. John the Beloved
Place
Patmos during exile
Date
96 AD
Theme
The things which are things which you have seen the things which will take place after this
Key verse
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this-1:19
- St. John was exiled to Patmos when God revealed to him His mysteries
- It is the only writing that St. John mentioned his name in
- Ch. 4
- Ch. 5
- Seals mean: things hidden from humans
- 7 = complete number
- 7 seals = 7 declarations
- God tells us what will happen in the history of Church
- In the old times, they used to seal each scroll with a seal for privacy and security
- This scroll had 7 seals for the complete hiding
- The priest told St. John to look at the Lion from the tribe of Judah, but St. John saw a lamb
- Our Lord is strong like a lion and simple like a lamb
- The standing lamb as though it had been slain applies only on the Cross
- V.8: Incense = the prayers of the saints. We believe that the saints are always present with us and praying with us and for us
- V.9-12: the words of this heavenly praise were taken by the Church and the words and concepts are used often - "worthy, slain, redeemed us, Lamb, strength and honor and glory and blessing"
- V.6-7
- Church fathers mention that these are 7 periods that will come on the Church
- First Seal: White horse = First Church of the Apostles. Very strong and conquered
- Second Seal: Red horse = Era of martyrdom
- Third Seal: Black horse = Era of heresies
- Fourth Seal: Pale/Green = Era of a big heresy or a strong person who will give the Church very hard time and a quarter of the earth followed it/him
- Fifth Seal: A joyful seal for encouragement
-
All the NT martyrs are linked to the Altar and were ready to give up their lives to Christ
-
V.10: Cried because they are still alive
-
Each one was given a white robe as a symbol of victory. And after they asked God about his judgment and vengeance, God asked them to "rest a little while longer". Why the wait? God is waiting for many other believers to join them
-
V.11: the martyrs and the saints under the altar are "fellow servants and their brethren"
-
-
Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances
- The same signs that Christ gave his disciples that will happen before the second coming
- The people who are not ready for the second coming want to hide from His face
- V.15: All people will be judged and if they were sinful and prideful will be scared of Him
- Ch. 7:
- Telling us about the saints who were saved from the fifth seal
- 144,000: 12 of OT x 12 of NT x 1000 (great complete unlimited number) = resembling the great unlimited number of saints and believers
- V.3: The seal = Sacrament of Chrismation that gives us the "seal"
- The tribes of Israel refer to the Church
- The tribe of Judah was mentioned first because it is the tribe of our Lord
- Mentioning every tribe ensures that every saint is counted and not forgotten by God
- V.9: The saints in heaven will be from everywhere and not set for a certain number
- V.12: Our praise in Pascha
- V.14: The great tribulation is the world with all its tribulations. All the saints had tribulations in their lives (poverty, sickness, loss of a beloved, persecution, etc.).
- Normally blood will stain. But the Blood of Christ purifies and makes things white
- V.17: The reward awaiting all those who came from tribulation.
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- 1. What is seen in the midst and around the throne? How are they described?
- Whenever the four creatures offer glory, honor, and thanks to God, what happens?
- Why did St. John weep and what comforted him?
- Why did they deem the Lamb worthy?
- What is seen when the fourth seal is opened? What was given to them?
- What is seen when the fifth seal is opened? What are they saying?
- Why did the tribes' order start with the Tribe of Judah?
- What future blessings the great multitude in white are promised to receive?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- Who says without rest day or night “Holy, Holy Holy”?
a) the angels b) the four living creatures c) the 24 elders d) St. John - The third living creature was like a:
a) lion b) calf c) man d) eagle - What was in the hand of Him who sat on the throne?
a) a golden lamp b) a golden bowl c) a scroll d) a harp - Who took the scroll from Him who sat on the throne?
a) the elders b) a living creatures b) St. John d) a lamb - What colors were the horses seen in the vision?
- What was given to the one on the red horse?
a) a crown b) a bow c) a sword d) a pair of scales - What was the number of those who were sealed?
a) 40 b) 140 c) 14,000 d) 144,000 - "They shall neither _______ anymore nor thirst anymore; the ________ shall not strike them, nor any _______; "for the ______ who is in the midst of the throne will ________ them and lead them to living _______of waters. And God will wipe away every ______ from their _____."
Revelation 3
Revelation 8-11
Objective:
-
Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets
-
7 Trumpets
-
The Mighty Angel with the Little Book
-
John Eats the Little Book
-
The Two Witnesses
Resources:
Reading:
- Revelation 8
- Revelation 9
- Revelation 10
- Revelation 11
Key verse(s):
"And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand" Revelation 8:4
Comments:
- The word translated “Revelation” means “unveiling.
- The verb simply means “to uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.”
- Apocalypse = Revelation = unveiling = uncover = to make manifest
- The author is St. John the Beloved
-
Author
St. John the Beloved
Place
Patmos during exile
Date
96 AD
Theme
The things which are things which you have seen the things which will take place after this
Key verse
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this-1:19
- The 7th Seal leads to the seven Trumpets
- Trumpets = Warnings
- Trumpets were used in old times to warn the people in the city against the enemies
- Warnings to alert people not to destroy
- Ch.8
-
V.1: We can't know how long the half-hour is as it is in Heaven. The heavenly creatures stopped praising for some time until God declared His final judgment (7th Seal). But then God extends the time on earth for repentance by sending another 7 warnings (Trumpets)
-
V.2: "were given seven trumpets" signifies that all things are done by and through God Himself
-
V.4: Smoke of incense + prayers of saints: A request of mercy and forgiveness. The angel offered incense as to intercede for the people before the Trumpets
-
Only 'thirds' were destroyed. This is God's warning in our lives. Not all is destroyed, but only a third to warn us
-
First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck
-
A third of trees and grass are burnt. Signifies famines
-
-
Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck
- "a great mountain burning with fire" = a great ungodly leader causing wars
- Symbolizes a great nation that caused a great war and then that nation fell into the sea and killed a third of the creatures
-
Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck
- "a great star fell from heaven" = a big famous religious figure
- This signifies a big leader leading to a big heresy leading to many people following a wrong dogma
- "Wormwood" is very bitter. This is the result and taste of heresies
- "Bitter war" The teachings were false and wrong. Destroyed the people. Looks like normal/good water, but leads to death
-
Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck
- This signifies that people will start to doubt their Faith in Christ, His Church, and the saints
- "a third of the sun" = The image of Christ the "Sun of Righteousness" is distorted
- a third of the moon" = The image of the Church is distorted. Moon gets its light from the sun. Church gets her light from Christ
- "third of the stars" = People having doubts in God's leader and servants (Saints)
- V.13: The last four Trumpts/warnings were tough. But the upcoming ones are harder to bear
- The three woes will be discussed in the next chapter. The three woes are more linked to the time before the second coming
- Ch.9
- Fifth Trumpet = First woe
- V.1-2: The devil was given authority to test the people after being somewhat released
- "The Smoke of a Great Furnace" tough and hard ideas of the devil in his war
- This should encourage us to grow in the word of God to be able to differentiate and combat his wars
- The trumpet also included the locusts' attack.
- V.4: The locusts were given clear instructions not to destroy anything "green" which symbolizes the faithful and righteous people
- Grass < Green thing < Tree: Different righteous people with different levels of spirituality. God is protecting the beginners and strong in faith. The locusts only harm those who don't have the "seal"
- V.5: Five months = 150 days. The same number of the flooding days at the time of Noah. Church Fathers look at this as if the locust will torment people for five months. This will torment them enough for them to request death and they won't get that rest. God wants His people to repent, but they request death over God.
- V.7: Sins are lucrative in their looks
- V.8: Woman's hair: attractive. Lions teeth in their strength that hurt badly
- Abaddon & Apollyon = Destroyer
- Satan and sins look lucrative and strong to appeal but they are "destroyers"
- Sixth Trumpet= Second woe
- Refer to the four angles mentioned in (Rev. 7:1-3). These four angles are still pausing and now they were given the order to release after the rights were "sealed"
- River Euphrates in Babylon. Babylon is a symbol of sin in the Bible
- This Trumpet is the first to affect humans
- V.16: "Two hundred million" are the soldiers in the armies
- We don't know the exact meaning of this war. But what we need to know is that this is a big war (200 Million) that will be linked to sin (Babylon) and will destroy 1/3 of the people who are not sealed. The reason for this is to repent!
- V.21 shows that people still did not repent after all of this
- Fifth Trumpet = First woe
- Ch. 10:
- V.1: St. John saw Christ. He described Him as an Angel as St. John couldn't clearly recognize Him in His glory. The rainbow is a sign of promise and compassion from Noah.
- "little open book"
- small = End of the world is near. This book has events less than the one in Ch.5 which was sealed (Scroll with 7 seals)
- Not sealed: Because the righteous now know God's ways vs the devil's wars
- V.3: After all the wars and warnings that happened. Christ appears as a strong roaring lion protecting His people
- V.4: God instructed St. John to not write about the seven thunders as God did not want to declare them to us
- V.5: Shows that God has authority over the land, sea, and heaven
- V.9:
- "Eat" means to know and understand to declare it to the people
- "Sweet in the mouth": God's word is sweet and joyful
- "Bitter stomach": Scholars said that this is because of the events St. John saw or because of the people's resistance to repentance. Also reading God's word reproaches us to repent
- Most scholars agree that this "little book" is the Bible. This means we read, study, understand, and digest the Bible. This meaning was also mentioned in (Jer. 15:16, Ez. 1:1-3, Psalm 119:103)
- Small book: The Bible is a small fraction of the things God declared to us and what we will learn in the Heavens
- Ch. 11:
- V.1
- Proof that we have an altar (vs other denominations) and that we have a spiritual altar (our hearts)
- "Measure those who worship there" = measure their faith
- 42 months = 3.5 years
- This signifies a time of spiritual death
- Elijah stopped the rain against Ahab for 3.5 years due to their sins
- Daniel prophesied that someone (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) would stop the worship for 3.5 years. Defiled the Altar and stopped their worship.
- In the NT, the holy city is not Jerusalem but the Church
- V.2: There will be a period where the Church will be persecuted and defiled putting the believers under severe persecution. This is the time of the Anti-Christ. God allows these days to purify the righteous and test the strong vs weak in faith.
- V.3:
- God will send his helpers to help the righteous during this time of severe persecution. They will die before the end of this severe persecution.
- 42 months of severe persecution = 1278 days
- The two witnesses will be there for 1260 days
- 18 days after they are dead - will be the end of persecution
- God will send his helpers to help the righteous during this time of severe persecution. They will die before the end of this severe persecution.
- V.5: some scholars say they will be in the same strength as Elijah or Elijah himself since he is not dead yet. The spiritual meaning: They will be as strong and spiritually strong as Elijah
- V.6: The verse talks about Elijah and Moeses. Moses departed, but not Elijah. The two witnesses/olive trees/lampstands: will be spiritually strong like Moses and Elijah to strengthen the people during the time of persecution
- V.8: Christ was not crucified in Egypt. Church Fathers commented saying this either many martyrs in Egypt (persecution against God's name) or as a symbol of sin (Egypt = Pride / Sodom = sexual immorality)
- V.9: "Three-and-a-half days" is an incomplete number ( 7 is complete). This means that their dead bodies will be visible to everyone after they are dead to be proof for everyone that they are dead and see God's power after their resurrection
- V.10: The two witnesses torment people with their words of repentance and exposing sin
- V.12: The enemies saw them and released their great power
- V.13: A tenth died from an earthquake. Another warning from God and not all perished. This shows God's mercy and His wait for repentance
- Seventh Trumpet = Third woe
- V.1
-
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- What do the trumpets symbolize and what do they remind you of in the Old Testament?
- What does the fire from the altar symbolize?
- “Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth” What the Apostle did mean by “A star fell from heaven to the earth”?
- Locusts have enough power to destroy any green things” Where else in the Holy Bible are locusts mentioned?
- Who is that mighty angel and how does St. John describe Him?
- “It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter”.
- Why was the little book honey in his mouth and bitter in his stomach?
- Who are the two witnesses and why are they called olive trees and lamp stands?
- As expressed in the praise of the twenty-four elders, what had come?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- What was given to the seven angels in Chapter 8?
- The star fell from Heaven and was given the key to:
a) the Heavenly Kingdom b) Jerusalem c) the bottomless pit d) the earth - The tails of the locusts were like:
a) scorpions b) serpents c) fire d) lions - The mighty angel had on his head:
a) a crown b) a hat c) a cloud d) a rainbow - What did St. John do with the little book?
a) read it b) wrote it c) ate it d) burned it - The two witnesses were given to prophesy for:
a) 42 days b) 1260 days c) 3 and half days d) 1260 years
Revelation 4
Revelation 12-15
Objective:
-
The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon
-
Satan Thrown Out of Heaven
-
The Woman Persecuted
-
The Beast from the Sea
-
The Beast from the Earth
-
The Lamb and the 144,000
-
Prelude to the Bowl Judgments
Resources:
Reading:
- Revelation 12
- Revelation 13
- Revelation 14
- Revelation 15
Key verse(s):
"And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand" Revelation 8:4
Comments:
- The word translated “Revelation” means “unveiling.
- The verb simply means “to uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.”
- Apocalypse = Revelation = unveiling = uncover = to make manifest
- The author is St. John the Beloved
-
Author
St. John the Beloved
Place
Patmos during exile
Date
96 AD
Theme
The things which are things which you have seen the things which will take place after this
Key verse
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this-1:19
- Ch.12
- V.1: This is St. Mary, St. John the Baptist, and the 12 Apostles
- This can also be applied to the Church
- V.3:
- Dragon = Devil
- 7 heads = 7 Kingdom
- 7 diadems = 7 crowns = 7 kings
- 10 horns = horn = strength = 10 kingdoms will join the devil or the world is symbolized as 10 (opposite to the 10 commandments)
- The next two revelations take place on earth and in heaven. Two different wars!
- V.4-6: On Earth: The dragon (devil) stood against the Church and was able to draw a third of the believers down. He wanted to also draw Her Male Child (Christ). But He couldn’t and Christ ascended to Heaven to His throne. The woman (Church) went to the wilderness (living out of this world) and was supported by the Angels for 1260 days - 3.5 years (like in Ch. 11) the time of great persecution of the Anti-Christ
- V.7-9: In Heaven: God wanted to reveal to us that there is another war we are not aware of and the angels are participating with us against the devil.
- We should have the faith that the angels are fighting for us and protecting us every day in our lives
- "serpent of old" Since the time of Adam
- We understand from these verses that the devil was defeated. We should always have hope and understand that we can defeat him at any time as he is defeated
- V.10-12: The praise of the Heaven rejoicing after the Angels defeated the devil
- V.10: One of the devil's names is the "accuser". He is always complaining and accusing us
- V.11: We are overcome by the Blood of Christ. We are strong in Christ and through His Body and Blood, "the word of their testimony" which is the Word of God, and not loving the world and its desires.
- V.12: The devil "he knows that he has a short time" which is a comforting message for us
- V.13-17: Now back to Earth (Dragon vs Woman)
- The devil persecuted the Male Child (Christ was persecuted)
- True Christians ought to be persecuted
- V.14: The eagle is the strongest bird. This woman (Church) had a great power from God. Going to the wilderness is loved by the Church to get out of this world and not care for worldly desires
- "a time and times and half a time" = 3.5 years
- V.15: The serpent spewed water out of his mouth so once the eagle (Church) tries to land, it starts to drown. This water is the worldly cares and desires. This is opposite to the Living Water of Christ
- V.16: The devils prepare wars, plan attacks, and Kingdoms rise, but all fall after a while and the woman (Church) prevailed
- The Church and the World will never agree. If there is an agreement, the Church is not with God
- V.17: The devil attacks those who "keep the commandments of God" because he doesn't like when people start to pray, serve, fast, and keep God's commandments so he keeps attacking them to bring them down
- The devil persecuted the Male Child (Christ was persecuted)
- V.1: This is St. Mary, St. John the Baptist, and the 12 Apostles
- Ch. 13: The beast from the sea
- Seven heads = different ideas of wars
- Ten horns = complete power
- Ten crowns = 10 nations will join him and follow the devil
- Blasphemous name: The signs that characterize him is rejection of God
- V.3: This beast is imitating the Lamb (Christ) to trick the people to follow him. He is very powerful and that leads to many people following him because of his signs
- The same 42 months that the devil will cause great persecution
- V.7: granted to him = signifies how God is in control and allows the devil to do some things but within limits and according to His well
- V.8: Those who are not following God, will follow the devil
- "from the foundation of the world" This is God's foreknowledge. He knows from before the beginning of the world what everyone will do and follow
- The beast from the earth:
- V.11: Looks like a lamb, but he is a dragon
- V.12: He works for and with the beast from the sea. The goal of the devil is to lead people into his ways
- This beast performed some signs to impress people. People will mistakenly think this is from God and they follow him. Then he leads them to Hades. It is more important to follow the spiritual ways of repentance than the acts of miracles
- V.16
- Mark on their right hand: those whose power is (right hand = strength) from the devil will be accepted by the beast
- Mark on their foreheads: those whose thoughts are from the devil will be accepted by the beast
- Those who think and do things according to the devil will be able to live in the world. God's righteous people should not be able to live in the world and be rejected by the world as they don't have the devil's sign on their heads. They have the sign of God (Chrismation) on their heads and that's why the world rejects them
- V.18: "Here is wisdom" = it is not easy for anyone to comprehend
- He is a man. Many people will follow this man who will be the Antichrist
- Many scholars tried to link this man to many historical figures
- What does this number signify?
- 7 = complete number
- 8 = Eternal life (after completion)
- 6 = short or missing
- 666 = signifies that it is a very INCOMPLETE number
- When the Antichrist comes, this number (666) will be more meaningful and recognizable to us. The righteous who know the word of God will be able to identify this man (Antichrist 666)
- Important to note:
- Satan tries to imitate God = False trinity
- False unholy trinity: Dragon, Antichrist, and False Prophet
- The dragon (Satan himself) tries to look like the Father
- The first Sea beast (Antichrist) tries to look like the Son
- The second Earth beast (false prophet) tries to look like the Holy Spirit
- Ch. 14:
- V.1: 144,000 mentioned before in chapter 7
- V.2: Many waters: Many are the blessings of the Holy Spirit
- V.2: "playing their harps." We will always be praising in the heavens
- V.3: "New song" not like on earth. On earth is suffering, pain, complaints, etc. These are not found in heaven
- V.3: We will know the new son when we become of the 144,000. Only the righteous know the language of heaven
- V.4: Does not apply to virgins or celibates, but these righteous saints lived in a spiritual celibacy on earth with God. Spiritual virginity is devoting ourselves to God and not the world or things in it
- V.5: The 144,000 had four characteristics:
- His Father’s name was written on their foreheads
- Spiritual Virginity
- Their mouth was found no deceit
- They are without fault (repentance)
- V.6-12: three angels with three proclamations and three messages
- First Angel: holding the everlasting gospel - proclaiming to those suffering on earth about the everlasting glory
- Second Angel: Falling of Babylon - Destruction of sin (Babylon represents sin)
- Third Angel: warning men not to follow the beast
- V.13: Blessed are those who die in the Lord because we look forward to being with God
- V. 14-16:
- V.14: Same description in Daniel
- Golden crown= victory
- Christ holding a sickle to reap. Similar to Christ's parables, mentioning the reaping for the final judgment
- V.15: The angel is not ordering God. However, similar to Ch. 7, when did they ask until when? The angel is asking God to judge the sinners.
- V.16: Answers the question: How long will judgment take? It is quick!
- V.17-20:
- Angels reaping the sinners
- Vine of earth, as in the sinners, are earthly and not heavenly
- Ch. 15:
- Prelude to the Seven Bowls of Wrath V. 1-4
- Seven Angels and Seven Bowls of Wrath V. 5-8
- V.2: The sea of glass is the way that Baptism allows us to go to God on His throne. He saw a sea, but the people were standing. The sea mixed with the fire of temptations they go through. They are praising God (as we always see in this Book)
- V.4: Similar to Ex. 15 (1st Canticle)
- This song was also chanted by the Israelites after they crossed the Red Sea (they are singing the same song while standing on the sea).
- St. Paul likened the Israelites crossing the Red Sea to Baptism (1 Cor. 10)
- Singing this Canticle every day in Praises is a prelude to the Heavens
- V.5-8:
- Prelude to the 7 bowls
- The angels are getting ready to pour their bowls
- The bowls will be the final judgments on the sinners ONLY
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- Who is the woman clothed with the sun? And the twelve stars? 2. How can we have victory over the devil?
- How was the lamb slain from the creation of the world?
- What does the number 666 mean?
- Who are the 144,000 and how are they described?
- What was the message the Spirit asked St. John to write? And what is its significance?
- What does “a sea of glass mingled with fire” symbolize?
- When did Moses sing this song, and what does it symbolize?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- For how long was the woman fed in the wilderness?
a) 1200 days b) 1260 days c) 40 days d) 3 days - What was given to the woman?
A) two wings b) gold c) a crown d) a sword - What did the dragon give the beast from the sea?
- What did the beast from the land require all to receive?
a) a Holy Bible b) a mark c) a sword - How many were standing with the lamb on Mount Zion?
a) 144,000 b) 14,000 c) 44,000 d) 41,000 - How many angels did St. John hear speaking?
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4 - Which song were those on the sea of glass singing?
a) song of victory b) song of the angels c) song of judgment c) song of Moses
Revelation 5
Revelation 16-18
Objective:
-
The Seven Bowls
-
The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast
-
The Meaning of the Woman and the Beast
-
The Fall of Babylon the Great
-
The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall
-
Finality of Babylon’s Fall
Resources:
Reading:
- Revelation 16
- Revelation 17
- Revelation 18
Key verse(s):
"Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame" Revelation 16:15
Comments:
- The word translated “Revelation” means “unveiling.
- The verb simply means “to uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.”
- Apocalypse = Revelation = unveiling = uncover = to make manifest
- The author is St. John the Beloved
-
Author
St. John the Beloved
Place
Patmos during exile
Date
96 AD
Theme
The things which are things which you have seen the things which will take place after this
Key verse
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this-1:19
- Ch.16
- Reminder:
- Trumpets = Warnings - 1/3's were destroyed
- Bowls = Judgments - Complete destruction of the UNRIGHTEOUS
- Goal of Trumpets and bowls -> Repentance of people
- Bowls of God's wrath
- Bowls are somewhat similar to the 10 plagues - Both were meant for repentance of sinners and avenging the righteous
- These bowls coincide with the plagues that happened in Egypt
-
However, they are in agreement with the spirit of the book, which is symbolic
-
The plagues that happened in the past were real
-
These bowls also agree with the seven trumpets, except that they are more severe and harsher
-
First Bowl: Loathsome Sores
-
On those who had the mark of the beast
- Similar to 6th plague
-
-
Second Bowl: The Sea Turns to Blood
- The sea represents the world
- Similar to 1st plague
-
Third Bowl: The Waters Turn to Blood
-
Waters = rivers - represent heretic Christians
- They lead Christians astray
-
- V.5: The angel of waters
- God has angels for different things (water, earth, seas, air, etc.)
-
It is traditionally known that the Coptic Church angel of water is Archangel Michael
-
Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched
- Similar to 9th plague
- V.9: Still did not repent
-
Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain
- V.10: On the throne of the beast on earth
- V.11: Still did not repent
-
Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up
- Euphrates is in Babylon. Babylon is a symbol of sin. The Euphrates is the biggest river there. Symbolizes the main source of sin
- V.13: "Frogs"
- Frogs like to work in darkness - unclean spirits are darkness
- Frogs are noisy - unclean spirits that do not give peace
- Frogs like mud - unclean spirits lead people to mud
- V.14: Miracles are sometimes done by evil spirits. Not all miracles are Godly, and we should not follow any and all miracles
- V.15: God is telling us to watch and be ready because He will come at any time
- V.16: Armageddon - A mystery in the Book
- Armageddon is the mountain of Megiddo
- The literal spelling in the Greek is Har-Magedon, which means Mount Megiddo
- Has multiple references in the OT. A reference to a place that witnessed multiple wars
-
Seventh Bowl: The Earth Utterly Shaken
- After this, the judgment of the devil and the unrighteous people is complete
- It is done after God extended the time for judgment (7 seals, 7 trumpets)
- V.19: Great city = Jerusalem
- Hail" is frequently mentioned as a judgment of God (Psalm 78:47, 105:32; Isaiah 28:2, 30:30; Ezekiel 13:11, 38:22; Haggai 2:17; Revelation 8:7, 11:19)
- The men blaspheme God because of the hail, the plague was exceedingly great (1 Talent = approximately 75 pounds)
- V.19: "And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath" : Explained in Ch. 17
- Reminder:
- Ch.17
- The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast (1-6)
- The Mystery of the Woman and Beast Explained (7-18)
- Babylon is a symbol of sin and disobedience to God in the Bible
- V.2: Shows how kings were affected by this lady
- This "lady" symbolizes sin that people left God and went away from Him to commit sin; "adultery" with satan.
- V.3: This wilderness is different from Ch. 12, where the "Lady" was taken there. This represents spiritual dryness
- "Scarlet Beast" is the devil. Takes the lady wherever he wants. Scarlet because of the blood of the saints
- Seven heads = seven kingdoms, and ten horns = ten kings
- Sin looks like an attractive royal (purple and scarlet) woman, but the one controlling it is satan. And this satan(scarlet beast) is "full of names of blasphemy"
- V.6: Shows the great enmity between the lady, devil, or sin and the righteous sons of God
- V.7: Angel explaining to St. John the mystery
- V.8:
- In Rev. 1:8, Christ called Himself " who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
- Here we see the devil (beast) being called by the angel "was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition"
- We have the complete faith that the devil was defeated on the Cross and will be tied, defeated, and put into hades at the end of times. He has no power or authority!
- Those who are not the children of God (who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life), when they see the righteous having great authority and defeating that beast
- V.9-10:
- Seven mountains = Seven kingdoms
- Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come: This could be understood from OT history
- Five have fallen: Kingdoms who have enslaved God's people and ruled the world: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece
- One is: Roman Empire
- The other has not yet come: An empire that came after the Roman empire and "continue a short time" - This is a Mystery!
- V.11: Satan is the 8th king to rule and enslave God's people (Satan's empire)
- "and is of the seven" means he will rule and act as the past seven kingdoms. At the end of times, the devil will establish his kingdom, but will also be defeated and "is going to perdition"
- V.12: 10 kings will come during the devil's empire and join and support him.
- Received no kingdom = they did not come yet (will come during the time of his empire)
- V.13: They are in one accord (Matthew 12:-22-30)
- V.14: Even though there are seven kingdoms and ten kings, God will defeat them and the devil because He is the "Lord of lords and King of kings"
- The righteous are called "called, chosen, and faithful"
- He called us
- He chose us
- We have to remain faithful so we can keep that calling and choice and enter the Kingdom!
- The righteous are called "called, chosen, and faithful"
- V.15: Many people will follow the sinful ways
- V.16: After the ten kings were defeated by God (V.14), they went back and fought the beast. Evil will always go against itself at the end and defeat itself
- V.16-18: shows what happens to the kingdoms and sinful people at the end.
- V.18: The great city: the spiritual meaning is the kingdom of the devil
- Ch.18:
- This chapter explains the death of the woman, the devil, and her eternal defeat
- V. 1-4:
- It is important to know that the evil will have a judgment
- Babylon - Sin has fallen. This is the judgment of sin and those who followed the devil
- V.4: God wants us (His people) to go out of this sinful city - leave sin
- This also means being different from the world and its ways
- V.5: God remembers the sins only if we don't repent and confess
- V.7: The sin that people admire or take pride in was the reason for their torment.
- Ex. Smoking causes lung cancer. Drinking causes liver failure
- ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow’: Thinks that she is good and has no problems, but she is a widow in fact. This symbolizes people who enjoy sin and think it is ok, but after they taste the temporary lucrative taste, they taste the pain and suffering
- V.9-10: Sometimes people don't think that strong/powerful nations/people/sins will never fail. But nothing is too big for God
- Standing far shows how severe the judgment is
- V.11-16:
- Mentioned things that the worldly people care about. Gold & silver (Looks) - cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil (fragrance) - fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep (foods) - bodies (sexual activity) - souls of men (heresies). All kinds of things that are used in trading
- V.16 The merchants also wail and regret what they did by focusing on earthly things (trading) and not God
- V.20: The heavens and righoues rejoice when the sin and sinners are judged and the saints are avenged
- V.21: A milestone will never float on water. This means Babylon (sin) will be judged and will be thrown out in Hades and never float again
- V.22-24:
- Shows the complete destruction of sin
- The worldly music will not be heard any longer
- The worldly acts will also end
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- Who told the seven angels to pour out on the earth the seven bowls of wrath?
- What are these bowls of wrath resembling?
- How and why does the altar speak to the third angle?
- How can the judgments contained in God’s bowls of wrath be true and just?
- What does Jesus mean when He says, It is done?
- What did God want the plagues to accomplish?
- Why describe the unclean spirits like frogs?
- Who is the beast, and why is he in the past and in the future but not in the present?
- Why do two evils, the beast and the harlot hate each other?
- God’s people should separate themselves from the world?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- The bowls contained:
a) gold b) the wrath of God c) food d) water - The fourth bowl was poured out on:
a) the earth b) the rivers c) the sun d) the sea - MYSTERY, ________ THE GREAT, THE ____________ OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE ___________.
- "Babylon the great is fallen, is _____, and has become a dwelling place of ________ a prison for every foul _______, and a cage for every unclean and hated _________."
- Babylon's judgment will come in: a) one hour b) one day c) one month d) one year
Revelation 6
Revelation 19-22
Objective:
-
Heaven Exults over Babylon
-
Christ on a White Horse
-
The Beast and His Armies Defeated
-
Satan Bound 1,000 Years
-
The Saints Reign with Christ 1,000 Years
-
Satanic Rebellion Crushed
-
The Great White Throne Judgment
-
All Things Made New
-
The New Jerusalem
-
The Glory of the New Jerusalem
-
The River of Life
-
The Time Is Near
-
Jesus Testifies to the Churches
Resources:
Reading:
- Revelation 19
- Revelation 20
- Revelation 21
- Revelation 22
Key verse(s):
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." Revelation 22:7
Comments:
- The word translated “Revelation” means “unveiling.
- The verb simply means “to uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.”
- Apocalypse = Revelation = unveiling = uncover = to make manifest
- The author is St. John the Beloved
-
Author
St. John the Beloved
Place
Patmos during exile
Date
96 AD
Theme
The things which are things which you have seen the things which will take place after this
Key verse
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this-1:19
- Ch.19
- This chapter talks about the heavenly rejoicing over the defeated sinful Babylon
- That's why the word "Alleluia" is mentioned a lot (4 times) because of the rejoicing
- V.2: God is just, and He gives time for repentance, but His judgments will surely come
- V.3: God's final judgments are "forever and ever". This responds to the Catholic ideas of purgatory. There is no change of judgment or a "change of the decision" after the final heavenly judgment.
- God's judgments are fair and eternal
- Notice how our Coptic Church uses Allelulia in all prayers and praises to teach us to speak in the heavenly language
- Omnipotent = All-powerful
- V.7: "The marriage of the Lamb has come" is the day all the righteous are waiting for. "His wife has made herself ready," like any bride who gets ready for her wedding, the Church or human soul is always getting ready for the day of her wedding - Heavenly banquet.
- The principle of God (Bridegroom) and Church/soul (Bride) is mentioned many times in the Bible, especially in the Song of Songs
- V.7 "made herself ready" and V.8 "it was granted to her" - These refer to the concept of works and grace. The bride (soul) worked to get herself ready and struggled against sin, and it was granted to her: means the Grace of God made her complete and perfect
- V.8: "he fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." All the saints are righteous and struggled in their lives, but each person/saint shows God's grace in them differently.
- Conclusion of Watos Theotokia - "The martyrs will come, bearing their afflictions, and the righteous will come, bearing their virtues"
- For example:
- David = Praises
- Abba Abraam = Giving
- Abba Anthony = Asetecisim
- St. Athanasius = Defending the faith
- Pope Cyril VI = Prayer
- St. Rebekah and her children = Martyrdom
- V.9: We are all blessed to be called. This shall make us encouraged to struggle against sin to attain and keep our invitation.
- V.10: St. John thought that he saw God, but the heavenly creature instructed him not to worship him as he is not God
- V.11: The same white horse we saw before in Ch. 6, who "conquered and went to conquer"
- V.12: "His eyes were like a flame of fire" - same description in Ch. 1
- V.14: The army of saints is following Him
- V.15: "sharp sword" - same description in Ch. 1. God's word is a sword that destroys any sins or heresy
- V.17-21: The defeat of Satan - The war of Armageddon in Ch. 16
- This war was before the final judgment
- V.18: Starting from kings to servants to show that everyone who followed the devil, whether rich or poor, small or great, will be punished
- "Small or great" is important because sometimes young people as,y "When I grow, I will get closer to God." Repentance is every time and not for adults
- V.21: "The sword" the word of God, is what judges between right and wrong
- Ch. 20
- Discusses the millennial reign of Christ
- The millennial reign is a Theological topic that is widely debatable between different denominations
- The literal meaning does not apply and is not accepted by our Coptic Orthodox Church
- This is not true because this chapter talks about Him regigning now with the souls of the righteous and the Bible talks about 2 comings only (His incarnation and His coming to judge the world)
- What we believe in our Coptic Orthodox Church:
- A thousand years is a symbolic number - A symbolic period
- The millennial reign started by Christ on the Cross
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Started from the crucifixion until the release of satan from his chains before end of world
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- Christ is not to reign on earth (similar to the Jewish beliefs)
- Christ Himself mentioned many times that He is not an earthly, but a Heavenly king
- Christ Himself mentioned many times that He is not an earthly, but a Heavenly king
- Some Denominations believe that Christ will come again and reign for a thousand years before final judgment
- God’s Kingdom is a spiritual Kingdom
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V.4: “I saw souls or martyrs reigned” - St. John saw them reigning 2000 years ago (time of this Revelation)
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- V.1-3: Laid hold of the dragon with a chain - Symbolizes limiting the wars and attacks of the devil
- The devil was tied when Christ reigned over on the Cross and limited, but not ended
- The devil was tied when Christ reigned over on the Cross and limited, but not ended
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What does binding Satan mean?
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He has no dominion over man, except if man goes to him or allow his ideas in his heart
- Think of a wild animal in a cave. Can’t hurt you until you go to him
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Why release satan?
- Because many will be weak in faith, lukewarm, and away from God
- V.3: He doesn't have authority over people like in OT, but now people go to him and fall into his trickery. But he was limited! The devil, after being tied (Christ's incarnation and death), is left to test people again for a thousand years (Symbolic number). But now we have authority over him (Luke 10:19)
- End of the thousand years = end of time on earth = Second coming = Final judgment = A symbolic number signifies a big number
- "But after these things he must be released for a little while." God will allow him to test the people and intensify his wars right before God's second coming for the final judgment
- V.4: The thrones are the saints around God. "Judgment was committed to them": God judged them, and they were found righteous
- The martyrs are in heaven, and they are reigning with Christ in Heaven
- V.5-6: Many are dead and did not want to repent
- "The first resurrection" = The resurrection from sin through baptism, repentance, and confession.
- That is why in V.6, "Blessed is the person who gets up from sin before the final judgment
- The first death: Death of the body
- The second death: Eternal death - After no repentance
- Those who repent do not have fear of the second death, and it has no authority over them
- In Ch. 1, it is mentioned that He made us kings and priests. This means that the millennial reign already started because in Ch.1, it was in "past tense"
- "The first resurrection" = The resurrection from sin through baptism, repentance, and confession.
- V.7: Right before the second coming and at the end of the thousand years, the devil will be allowed to intensify his war against the saints (same as V.3)
- V.8-9
- The war mentioned in chapters 17 and 18
- "Four corners of the earth" - The devil will go around the whole earth to gather his allies for the war
- "Gog and Magog" Symbolizes the evil nations and kings that will join the devil
- Also mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39
- Gog is the king
- Magog is the land he reigns over
- "The Beloved City" is not Jerusalem, as it was rejected. This is the Church
- The war will be against the Church and saints (wherever they are found)
- "fire came down from God out of heaven," Like the times of Elijah
- God's people have spiritual power vs the political power of those who are persecuting them
- Rev. 11 - The two witnesses
- V.10: The devil was tied and now will be thrown into the lake of fire after the Antichrist and false prophet were thrown in there before him (Ch. 19)
- V.11: The heaven and earth will end
- V.12: We have faith that in the second coming, everyone will rise from the dead - this is a joyful message. But also a warning that everyone and everything will be judged
- Importance of works. Our faith shown in works will be judged
- V.13: The sea = world. Also, those who were worldly and died away from repentance will be judged
Chapters 21 and 22 discuss the heavenly banquet and the wonderful life after the life on earth ends.
- Ch. 21
- V.1: The new heavenly Jerusalem. Sea = world = no more
- V.2: St. John wanted to confirm that he saw the bride is ready for her bridegroom
- Bride: New Jerusalem because the old Jerusalem was rejected by Christ
- V.3: tabernacle where God will dwell with His people (Bride)
- V.4: After the many wars, persecutions, and tribulations, wonderful things and eternal happiness await the righteous
- Imagine God Himself wiping away our tears!
- V.5: God wants us to attain the new man and a new pure life with him. We have to leave the old sinful habits
- V.6: God said the same when salvation was done on the Cross. Now all His promises are done and fulfilled
- V.8: Idolatry did not end as people worship materialistic things like money, degrees, technology, etc.
- V.12-14:
- 12 = 3 (Believers of the Trinity) x 4 (Four corners of the earth) = The Church all over the world
- Gates: 12 Tribes - Entering the relationship with God started in OT
- Foundations: The Foundation of the Church is the Apostolic Teachings
- The Bride is the believers of the OT and NT
- V.16: Square = Equal sides = Perfect city
- V.17: 144=12 (OT) x 12 (NT)
- V.18-21: The many different precious stones symbolize the many different virtues of the saints in heaven
- V.22: No temple is needed because the Lord Himself is in her midset
- Ch. 22
- V.1: River = Holy Spirit
- One Throne because God the Father and the Son are one
- V.2: We finally get to eat from the Tree of Life after we have been banned from it since Adam and Eve
- V.4: We finally get to see God's face vs when Moses couldn't see His glory
- V.6-7: Confirming the credibility of the message and the revelation that St. John saw. This Revelation has been there for 2000 years. 1 Day is a thousand years and a thousand years are like one day for God (2 Peter 3:8).
- V.8-9: This is the second time that St. John worships, and the heavenly creatures instruct him that he is not God
- V.10: “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book" = Do not hide anything you saw so the people know what will happen and be ready through repentance
- V.12: God repeats again that He is coming quickly. We shall be ready and wait for Him at any time
- V.15: dogs are sometimes translated as "Sodomite/homosecuality"
- V.16: "I am the Root and the Offspring of David"
- Root: Creator of David - God's Divinity
- Offspring: Son of David - God's Humanity
- V.18-19: God warns those who do not believe or falsify or twist this prophecy
- V.20: "He who testifies" = Christ
- After all the things and the beautiful heavenly Jerusalem that St. John saw, he said, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
- V.21: The Bile and the NT ends with "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" that we received after His resurrection
- V.1: River = Holy Spirit
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- Who was sitting on the white horse?
- What was written on the robe and thigh of the One on the white horse?
- What did the angel do to Satan?
- What happens when the thousand years have expired?
- What were the twelve gates? What was the street in the city?
- Why was there no temple in the city?
- How many fruits did the tree bear and when? What were the leaves for?
- What will happen to the one who takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- The angel coming down from heaven had keys to:
a) Heaven b) the Kingdom of God c) Hades d) the bottomless pit - Blessed and _______ is he who has part in the first ________ Over such the ________ death has no _______, but they shall be priests of God and of _________, and shall reign with Him a ______ years.
- Then I, John, saw the holy city, New _______, coming down out of ________ from God, prepared as a ______ adorned for her _________.
- The twelve _______ were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one ______. And the street of the city was pure ______, like transparent ________.
- What is on either side of the river?
- "I, ________, have sent My ________ to testify to you these things in the _______. I am the ______ and the Offspring of _________, the Bright and Morning _______."
Catholic Epistles
James
Objective:
- Trials vs Temptations
- Partiality
- Faith and works
- The Tongue
- Heavenly wisdom
- Lustful desires
- Worldly richess
Resources:
Reading:
- James 1
- James 2
- James 3
- James 4
- James 5
Key verse(s):
"Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works" James 2:18
Comments:
- The Catholic Epistles are Seven
- Catholic = Universal
- The Catholic Epistles differ from the Pauline Epistles as they were not sent to specific persons (Timothy - Titus) or Churches (Galatians - Romans) but sent to Christians in the world
- The Author:
- He is James, the son of Alphaeus
- One of the twelve disciples
- He is the brother Jude/Thaddaeus/Lebbaeus (Author of the other epistle)
- He was known as the Lord’s brother as his mother was a sister to St. Mary the Virgin, the wife of Clopas, which means Alphaeus in Aramaic
- The first Bishop of Jerusalem (Acts 15)
- He headed the Council of Jerusalem in 51 AD (Acts 15)
- He was ascetic and used to kneel during prayer until his knees became like those of a camel
- The epistle is written to the Christians all over the world to encourage them to endure trials and to offer practical spiritual applications
- Ch. 1:
- V.1-2: We should be joyful when we are facing trials because these are our crowns in heaven
- V.3: Trials produce patience and strength in life
- V.5: Asking God for wisdom will definitely be accepted by Him as He loves these requests and will provide "Liberally"
- Bad requests: money, revenge, power
- Good requests: wisdom, love, patience
- V.9-10: God will reward the poor. As they suffered on earth, they will be rewarded in Heaven
- V.11: If the rich do not depend on God and do not endure trials happily, they will perish like grass burned by the sun
- V.12-13: Sometimes we may think that God makes us fall into sin (Why did God put this person in my day to make me lust or get angry?)
- St. James is explaining that these thoughts are false and the sins are coming from our bad feelings/thoughts
- Hate -> Getting angry at someone
- Lustful thoughts -> lead to sin
- St. James is explaining that these thoughts are false and the sins are coming from our bad feelings/thoughts
- V.14-15: Progression of sin
- V.19: We should be fast to hear the word of God and slow to speak lest we sin
- V.22-24: Man should be a doer of the word. If a man knows that he is struggling with a certain sin and hears God's word without doing an action, he is alike a person looking at the mirror without fixing himself.
- Ch. 2:
- V.1-13: At this time, people were under persecution. Some used to honor the rich more in Church so they could protect them if they were persecuted. St. James is encouraging them to honor the poor and rich equally and to rely on God. The poor are rich in spirit and faith.
- V.14-26: Faith without works is dead
- Faith and works are equally important, and BOTH are required to enter the Kingdom
- We can't do good works without believing in God and His commandments
- We can't say we believe in God and His commandments without doing His works and showing our faith in action
- Ch. 3:
- V. 1-11: St. James provides simple and practical examples to show much much power is in the tongue
- V. 13-18: Heavenly vs Earthly wisdom
- Characteristics of each type
- Ch. 4:
- V. 1-6: Personal pride produces wars and hatred between people
- V. 7-10: Humility cures all prideful wars and hatred
- V. 11-12: Judging one another is a spiritual war
- V. 13-17: We should plan our lives and seek work and success. But we have to understand that all of this is through God's will. We can't guarantee that we will be living and that all our lives and plans will be completed exactly as we planned.
- Ch. 5:
- V. 1-6: Rich people are not hated by God, and being rich is not a bad or sinful thing. But we have to understand that riches come from God for the rich to enjoy their hard work and God's blessing. The rich shall use what God gave them and give to those in need. Richness is bad when it makes the person rely on it and not God
- V. 7-12: Patience and perseverance.
- V.12: The importance of not cursing and being honest and confident in your words
- V. 13: The importance of spiritual rejoicing in the Lord
- V. 14: Sacrament of the unction of the sick. "Elders" is not an accurate translation, and it means "Priests - Presveteros"
- V.16: Sacrament of repentance of confession.
- Both sacraments go hand in hand - We pray for the healing of our spiritual and physical sicknesses
- Confess to one another: Does not mean to confess to regular people but to the priests (from V.14)
- V. 17: He wanted to comfort us by telling us that the great Elijah was also a human and felt weak at some point. But Elijah was a man of prayer and fasting.
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- Will God ignore our prayers when we doubt?
- “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” Does this mean wrath is acceptable? Explain.
- What’s the difference between good Christians who believe that there is one God and the demons who also believe that there is one God?
- Some other Christian denominations believe that all you need to be saved is faith. How can you use this chapter to respond to this belief?
- How does St. James describe the tongue?
- If the tongue cannot be tamed why try?
- What counsel does St. James give to those tempted by the world?
- What does the phrase “friend of the world” mean and how can that cause an enmity with God?
- Identify verses in this chapter that talk about sacraments of the Church.
- Does anointing with oil guarantees healing?
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- CHAPTER 1
- My brethren, count it all _____- when you fall into various __________, knowing that the testing of your faith produces __________.
- The apostle says that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from _________." a) our parents b) the Father of lights c) the Pharisees
- CHAPTER 2
- When a poor man comes to our church we should:
a) treat him as a servant b) ignore him and pay attention to the rich people c) treat him well because he is also loved by God - Who is called “friend of God”?
a) any Christian b) the Lord Jesus Christ c) Abraham d) Rahab
- When a poor man comes to our church we should:
- CHAPTER 3
- 1. Out of the same _________ proceed _________ and cursing.
- 2. Heavenly wisdom is characterized by:
a) envy and self-seeking b) confusion and evil c) purity, peace and gentleness
- CHAPTER 4
- 1. "God resists the _________, but gives grace to the __________."
- 2. Therefore, to him who knows to do ______ and does not ____ it, to him it is _________.
- CHAPTER 5
- 1. But let your "Yes," be _______ and your ______ "No," lest you fall into __________.
- 2. Is anyone among you _______? Let him call for the elders of the _______ and let them pray over him, anointing him with _______ in the name of the _______.
Jude
Objective:
- Greetings to the Called
- Contend for the Faith
- Old and New Apostates
- Apostates Depraved and Judged
- Maintain Your Life with God
Resources:
Reading:
- Jude 1
Key verse(s):
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" Jude 21
Comments:
- The Catholic Epistles are Seven
- Catholic = Universal
- The Catholic Epistles differ from the Pauline Epistles as they were not sent to specific persons (Timothy - Titus) or Churches (Galatians - Romans) but sent to Christians in the world
- The Author:
- He is Jude, also known as Thaddeus or Lebbeus
- He is not the same as Judas Iscariot, as we know that he ended his life
- He is the brother of St. James the Lesser, the bishop of Jerusalem
- Both are known to be the sons of Alphaeus, and they were cousins of our Lord
- Their mother (Mary the Lesser) was the younger sister of St. Mary
- The Author shows a great knowledge of Old Testament and Holy Tradition
- He is Jude, also known as Thaddeus or Lebbeus
- V.1: He identified himself as the brother of James, as James was more known as the bishop of Jerusalem
- He was the cousin of our Lord, but he did not boast about this and identified himself as a "bondservant."
- V.3: "Common salvation" is common to the Jews and Gentiles. We are all one in Christ.
- "The faith which was once for all delivered." Christ died only once, and the faith is the same and does not change over time. Those who claim new ideas or "faith" are heretics. Faith was delivered to the saints and does not change or alter over time
- V.4: Heretics "creep" their way into the Church. They don't publicly announce different ideas, but quietly change or alter the faith. For example, Arius believed that Christ is God the Logos, but the hidden idea was not calling him "equal to the Father."
- We have to be aware of those who change little things, "even if it is one letter," and do not change the faith and deliver it exactly as we received it
- V.5: The older generation who crossed the sea was destroyed and did not enter the promised land because of all the complaining and lack of faith they showed towards God and Moses
- Being Christians and Baptised do not just save us from eternal death, but we have to show our faith with works and live a constant life of repentance
- V.6: Even angels who were prideful received everlasting death - Isaiah 14
- V.8: Dreamers = dream about false teaching and heresies and think they are right, deceiving themselves and others
- V.9: This story is not mentioned in the Old Testament, but the author quoted it from Tradition
- This story is the source for most Archangel Michael icons
- This shows the importance of the Holy Tradition and not relying solely on what's in the Bible
- For example, in our Church, we rely primarily on the Bible as our #1 resource, but we do not discard the sayings and teachings of the Church Fathers, as they explained to us the Bible and the Faith.
- V.11: Heretics and those who leave the faith go through different levels:
- Drifting away from God's way and hating others - Cain
- Fall into sexual lusts and desires, love of money, and pride - Balaam
- Balaam, for money, suggested to the king of Moab to make the Israelites fall into adultery to defeat them (Numbers 22)
- They perish without repentance - Korah
- Korah was one of the people who went against Moses and Aaron, and the earth opened and swallowed them (Numbers 16)
- V.12: These heretics are like small "spots" that no one sees or pays attention to. Spots mean hidden reefs. These hidden reefs are not noticed until they destroy a big ship.
- Heresies and heresies are not noticed sometimes until they destroy a large number of people/churches
- Heretics are deceivers. Clouds without water. Trees without fruit. The outside is different without real fruit inside
- Heretics have no stability or peace as they are away from God. They are like "raging waves of the sea"
- Heretics come up bright, but they quickly die. Like stars or celestial masses that burn for a moment before completely dying - "wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever"
- V.14: This prophecy by Enoch was not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. Also shows the importance of Holy Tradition. He prophesied against heretics and sinners.
- V.16-19: Characteristics of the ungodly people. We should watch our conduct lest we fall into similar things.
- V.20-22: How to maintain life with God
Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions
- What did the ungodly men do?
- What does St Jude urge us to do?
- Why were false prophets called dreamers?
- They are like clouds without water. Explain.
Homework:
**Servant may add more questions
- St Jude was eager to write about:
a) the Holy Bible b) salvation c) the Jews d) the Romans - Keep yourselves in the _______ of God, looking for the _________ of our Lord Jesus Christ unto _________ ________.
- What was St. Jude eager to write about?
- What did the Lord do to those who did not believe?