Reflections in Christ by Savannah

A short time ago, a statement appeared on my feed that I found difficult to ignore. His claim: "Esther joined the beauty pageant to marry the king." It is expected that Christians who do not understand the Book of Esther will use Esther as an example. However, a closer examination of the Bible reveals it never said that Esther join any beauty pageant. Let us dive on what the Book of Esther actually says: It all started when King Ahasuerus made a feast in his palace, and all people in Shushan were invited, rich and poor alike.  "And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace." (Esther 1:5) Of course, there is a feast and people are wondering where is the queen. (For the knowledge, the queen is not there because she arranged a separate feast for women in the royal house.) And so, the king ordered ...

With the world’s current situation, many are earnestly praying for the return of Jesus Christ as a means of escape; however, the Bible never explicitly instructs believers to pray for Christ’s return in order to avoid suffering. In Matthew 24, a disciple ask Jesus Christ when will be his second coming. Then Lord Jesus responded — Greek transliteration of Matthew 24:29–30: Eutheōs de  meta tēn thlipsin  tōn hēmerōn ekeinōn, ho hēlios skotisthēsetai, kai hē selēnē ou dōsei to phengos autēs, kai hoi asteres pesountai apō tou ouranou, kai hai dynameis tōn ouranōn saleuthēsontai. kai tote phanthēsetai to sēmeion tou huiou tou anthrōpou en ouranō, kai tote kopsontai pasai hai phylai tēs gēs, kai opsontai ton huion tou anthrōpou erchomenon epi tōn nephelōn tou ouranou meta dunameōs kai doxēs pollēs. Greek transliteration to English translation: Immediately then  after the tribulation  the days of those: The sun will be darkened, and the moon not will give the light ...

In Christian theological discourse, 1 Samuel 28 is often cited to maintain that divination, or any magical arts, were approved by Yahweh. However, this claim collapses under careful reading of the text. First thing first, we should examine the truth on why Saul consulted the medium in Endor. In 1 Samuel 8, the Israelites were pleading to Samuel into giving them a king who will rule them and lead them in their battles just like in other countries. Samuel prayed to Yahweh about this matter, where God answered, "Do what they want and give them a king." A quite some time, Saul, the son of Kish, was chosen to be the first king of Israelites. At first, Saul conveyed obedience to God until he started to become arrogant and disobedient. (1 Samuel 16:4) As a result, Yahweh abandoned him, and the Holy Spirit departed from him. Following this, evil spirits were said to surround him, and his primacy began to deteriorate. When he saw the Philistines assembling near the town of Shu...

The concept of papal supremacy is unbiblical. We know this because the Bible, specifically the New Testament, never mention it in the very first place. The Bible – the highest and ultimate authority for Christians – only teach bishops and deacons. Some Catholics (members of the physical church) would say that "some things need to be redefined". Wait, what? As I have said, papal supremacy does not exist in the 1st century CE. You cannot add or change what is written in the Sacred Scriptures. Moses once said to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 4:2, "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you." Moses here was acting as Yahweh's mouthpiece passing on God's own instruction to the Israelites. Okay, remove the Israelites from the picture – the truth of the message remains universal. It's because the same warning is given by Paul the apostle in Galatians 1:8-9, no one should ch...

The Catechism of the Catholic Church never said that the Roman Catholic Church is the Church of God. In Part 1, Section 2, Chapter 3, Article 9, Paragraph 2 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church — titled “The Church – People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit” — the Church is described using three primary biblical images. According to the section on the “The People of God”, the Church is called the People of God. So who are the People of God? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #781-#782, the Church, or the People of God, are those people whom God acquired for Himself to acknowledge and serve Him in holiness. How to become a member of the Church or the People of God? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #782, the actual members of the Church, or the People of God, are those people who are baptized with water and baptized with the Holy Spirit.  Is baptism of water and baptism of the Holy Spirit the same?...

1. Dialogue with Trypho, ch.81 by Justin Martyr written around 155-160 CE And further, there was a certain man with us, whose name was John, one of the apostles of Christ, who prophesied, by a revelation that was made to him, that those who believed in our Christ would dwell a thousand years in Jerusalem; and that thereafter the general, and, in short, the eternal resurrection and judgment of all men would likewise take place.  Reference: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/01286.htm 2. Against Heresies, bk.4, ch.20, no.11 by Irenaeus of Lyons  written around 180-190 CE John also, the Lord's disciple, when beholding the sacerdotal and glorious advent of His kingdom, says in the Apocalypse: I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And, being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the candlesticks One like the Son of man, clothed with a garment reaching to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle; and His head and His hairs were...