Rabbit Holes & Meditations - Christian Bible Study

The path of Christian discipleship, as illuminated by the Beatitudes and the witness of the apostles and Revelation, is one marked by expected persecution. However, this persecution is not a curse but a profound blessing, an affirmation of belonging to the kingdom of heaven. Whether facing overt violence in hostile nations or subtle pressures in freer societies, the call is to steadfastness, to "lose life" in daily surrender and, if necessary, in martyrdom, in the certainty of finding eternal life and glory in Christ. The victory is not in avoiding suffering, but in enduring it with joy, eyes fixed on the ultimate reward.
 
Notes for Faith Under Fire
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/faith-under-fire/

Two words always bother me. Compromise and Tolerance. I tackled the concept of both of those within the context of this podcast. Peace never comes through brokering an agreement between good and evil (compromise) or simply turning a blind eye to the existence of evil (tolerance). 
If you thinking, OK... who defines good and evil? Well, that would be Christ. So, to even get to this point within the beatitudes, make sure you have a solid foundation. That's why peacemaking comes 8th in the list of the beatitudes. 
Notes for Peace
 
https://rabbitholes.faith/e/peace/ 

Adam walked with God in the Garden. Then, the fall. Since, nobody has been able to see the Holy Father in his full, radiant glory; with the exception of Jesus. Our entire journey is to recover what was lost by focusing on the One and Only who can bring you back. 
 
Notes to The Key to Seeing God
 
https://rabbitholes.faith/e/the-key-to-seeing-god/  

Think mercy is just about giving to the poor? Writing a check? This podcast might have you rethinking where mercy comes from and to whom it should be directed. 
 
Notes for Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement
 
https://rabbitholes.faith/e/mercy-triumphs-over-judgement/ 

I'm a big picture guy. I build a puzzle by looking at the picture on the box. But inevitably, if you look at the picture on the box and you try to build that set shelves that Amazon sent you in a box, inevitably, you get one piece (at least) in backwards! As we walk into the fourth beatitude, we already have the big picture, right? It's Christ! So, we let him give us the instructions, step by step, to walk in righteousness. That's what this podcast reveals with a very clear framework on not just what to do, but how. 
 
Notes for Walking in Righteousness
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/walking-in-righteousness-step-by-step/ 

The Mighty Meek
When we hear meek, we often think weak. But in Scripture, meekness is not weakness—it is strength under control, power surrendered to God.
Jesus said: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5), echoing Psalm 37:11. The meek are not pushovers but those who wait on the Lord instead of grasping for power.
The greatest example is Christ Himself—gentle and lowly (Matt. 11:29), yet mighty enough to submit to the cross. By meekness, He gained the inheritance of all nations.
This is the paradox of the kingdom: the mighty meek—those who trust God’s hand over their own strength—will inherit the earth.
 
Notes to The Mighty Meek
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-mighty-meek/ 

The second beatitude is easy to pass over: "Blessed are those who mourn". We can get tied up in the english translation and blow right past it. The Amplified Bible translation really helps here and it presents a good example of why we should be considering other translations when something doesn't seem to make sense.
Amplified Version: “Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted].
 
Notes for Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/blessed-are-those-who-mourn/ 

When you are kingdom focused, the entire prospect of what you own, your money, your wealth, the things you have diminish in comparison. Jesus' 1st beatitude helps us frame our lives around the concept of "Blessed are the poor". This podcast might hit close to home for many... we hope so. Definitely grab the notes - there is some very practical advice worth printing and practicing. 
 
Notes to Stewardship - Blessed Are the Poor
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/stewardship-blessed-are-the-poor/
 

In our Red-Letter Bible Study, we almost missed this. Matthew 12:15-21 begins Jesus' 2nd year in ministry. John the Baptist has just been beheaded. Jesus retreats into the wilderness (presumably to mourn and to pray). As Jesus emerges into His 2nd year, He comes with a quiet power that nobody missed... "and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all". 
Verse four then echoes the words of the Father (from Isaiah 42:1-4). In my very humble opinion, these should have been bid, bold, capitalized, red letters! Afterall, it is God the Father speaking. So we stop here, and jump back to Isaiah and unpack what Isaiah was trying to tell everyone. 
I'm not saying I would have been any better at interpreting Isaiah at the time. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. With what we know now, we can go back and read Isaiah with and opened heart and opened eyes. 
 
Notes for The Servant That Israel Missed

We've all seen the example that Jesus gave for how to pray. In our red-letter bible study, we encounter a disciple who asks Jesus to teach them how to pray. Luke 11:1-4. Rather than just go through the prayer itself, we decided to take a different approach. First, why did the Jews see what Jesus was doing to be so noticeable? How did they normally pray? It's helpful to contrast what their prayer routine was so we can see what was so unique about how Jesus prayed. Rather than let Jesus tell us, us he does in Luke 11:1-4, we went on a gospel quest to witness Jesus' prayer firsthand.
 
Notes to "Praying to Abba"
https://rabbitholes.faith/e/praying-to-abba/
 

Ok, this one got away from me, but for good reason. This podcast is more than an hour long but so worth it! We debated putting the podcast here and decided that for those who endure, you'll remember this, you'll see how the red-letter Bible study unfolds into a rich, progressive narrative and you'll be able to make much more sense of it as you follow along. 
While I think this is beneficial for all believers, I retitled the podcast to appeal to Jews wondering about Christ.
"Blind" takes the reader (and listener) through a journey to help understand, beyond simply assuming intentional ignorance, how or maybe why the Pharisees could not or would not see Jesus as not only the Messiah but God in the Flesh. The Pharisees knew the scrolls, yet when it came to very specific scriptures, they either somehow missed them, reinterpreted them or ignored them altogether. The document focuses on Old Testament scripture to show that both the reader and the Pharisees had access to same text. You will no doubt arrive at the conclusion that it was all there! When you see it laid out, it's truly hard to imagine that they missed it... and still miss it today! They are Pharisees! They have this memorized! The reader will see something that the Pharisees would have clearly had access to, and what was right in their own scrolls detailed what happened right under their very noses... in excruciating detail! 
I think, my hope, is that after having listened to this, you'll come away with a more solid faith in the scriptures. 
 
Notes for Blind - You could refer to these notes as Christian Apologetics for Jews. 
 
https://rabbitholes.faith/e/blind/ 

Jesus is in a synagogue, on the sabbath and there encounters a man with a withered hand. The pharisees are there, of course, to make sure Jesus does not heal on the Sabbath. Jesus sets a trap that the pharisees didn't expect. The response is dark.
 
Notes to The Dark Side Emerges
https://rabbitholes.faith/e/the-dark-side-emerges/ 

I've often wondered about this: “It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”  Israel was chosen to be a light to the Gentiles.
This is perhaps a good place to pause on our Red-Letter journey and reflect on something that might have puzzled many. As we walk with Jesus in his journey, we're not exactly encountering the piety of the Jews along the way. So how could Israel be a light to the Gentiles? Let's tackle that question head on.
 
Notes and Study Guide: How Israel Became a Light to the Nations
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/how-israel-became-a-light-to-the-nations/ 

As we continue in our Red-Letter Bible Study, we could be shadowing the Pharisees... they seem to know where Jesus is at every moment! We encounter Jesus and a band of his disciples moving to whatever their next destination is through a corn field and eating some of the grans of corn along the way. The pharisees confront them and accuse them of breaking the Sabbath law. By now, on the Red-Letter journey, we've come to expect that the pharisees are never the object of Jesus' teaching. You can almost hear Jesus speaking up so that all of the disciples in the field will hear what he has to say. Jesus lands on another teachable moment for his disciples, using His response to the pharisees as a launching point. To understand in full, we wander over to Hebrews to break it down even further.
Notes to "Rest in Christ"
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/rest-in-christ-the-sabbath-is-not-a-day-of-the-week/ 

Today's podcast is a little different. The conversation with our A.I. bot went off in a couple of different directions (my fault : ). We started with the very innocent parables of New Wine in Old Wine Skin and patching clothes with new unshrunk cloth. These parables point to the hardened hearts of the Jews and before you think this was only a problem 2000 years ago, it happened that we found in our YouTube Feed (we don't know how), a testimonial of a Jewish family and the conversion to Christianity. It is fascinating and if you have time, the entire video is posted below. (It is an excellent Bible study independent of this podcast). We started the conversion discovering why Jesus was so successful at attracting those on the fringes, the outcasts and we projected that all the way to end times where Israel finds itself marginalized and isolated. This will be the very point when they see Jesus as their Messiah. 
 
Link to a copy of the Actual Conversation with ChatGPT
 
YouTube Video: Stan Telchin Sets Out to Disprove Jesus As Messiah
Episode: https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/two-parables-and-hardened-hearts/ 

Imagine you're out on a date, having dinner, laughing, completely immersed in the moment. Your mom walks in, looks at you and says: "Hey! What are you doing! This isn't a time for fun. You should be ashamed of yourself. You should be fasting!" That's exactly the moment we wander into here. The Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist don't see the reason for the feasting and the celebration. 
Notes for the Courtship Has Begun
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-courtship-has-begun/ 

We're in Capernaum in our Red-Letter bible study and Jesus walks up to this tax collector and just says "Follow Me". Let's dig in here to understand the back-story of why this is so significant. This event sets the vector of Matthews entire gospel.
Notes for "From Tax Collector to Saint"
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/from-tax-collector-to-saint/ 

Imagine the scene, Jesus is in Capernaum. The house his is in is absolutely mobbed. Four men, carrying their paralytic friend on a stretcher are desperate to get this man in front of Jesus to be healed. What happens becomes undeniable proof of Jesus' divinity. 
 
Notes for Undeniable Proof
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/undeniable-proof/ 

This is such an easy passage to gloss over. On the surface it is super simple. And since we’re following Jesus’ words chronologically, there is a nuance in the context that we could miss if we don’t step off the Red-Letter trail a little bit. We intend to do that here to get a better understanding of the full context. It’s the reason we love these Rabbit Holes anyway. The Red-Letter Bible Study is just an anchor, but the line hooked to the boat is quite long!
Jesus was just recently in Jerusalem and in our journey, the last thing he encountered was the expert in the law trying to trap him. Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan which on a much grander scale was highlighting the whole gospel story.
Our next stop is Bethany, Judea. Jesus is welcomed into the home of Martha and her sister Mary. This is where we get off the Red-Letter train to see what is happening. Luke is very intentional about the order in which he puts things. 
See Notes for Setting Your Priorities
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/setting-your-priorities 

As we continue our Red-Letter Bible journey (chronologically), we come upon a lawyer (one who is well versed in biblical Law) and he attempts to trap Jesus. (Luke 10:25-37). If you've simply read your Bible, this is an easy to understand passage. On it's face, it is pretty straight forward. But, unpack the deeper layers and this parable is the Gospel message. You'll love it more once you get what Jesus just said to the lawyer. The lawyer, of course, doesn't get it. But you will and you will treasure this story forever. I promise.
 
Notes for The Good Samaritan
 

Imagine the court room. Jesus is the prosecutor. The Jewish Religious Elite, who started this as the accusers, become the defendants as Jesus turns the table. This is just an amazing scene that I had to read and re-read. Honestly, I'm still not sure I get it all. You'll see as you listen, there are some deep detours that you can take as you listen to Jesus presenting his case. 
Notes for The Trial
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-trial/ 

In our Red-Letter Bible study we have encountered Jesus healing a man at the pool of Bethesda. Just to quickly recap, Jesus comes into the sheep gate, the northern court of the temple. Don't miss this. Jesus, the Lamb of God, arrives in Jerusalem through the "House of Mercy". He gets the man who has been visiting this place for 38 years to confess his need for healing and to reveal that this system doesn't work (drawing on a much bigger metaphor). Jesus heals the man instantly and tells him to get up, take his mat with him. This raises the eyebrows of the Jewish religious elite who seem more concerned with their own version of Rabbinic law than they are with the fact that this man is able to walk out of the temple after 38 years of clawing the floor to get to the water when it bubbled up... never to even come close to being healed. 
What we witness now is how a hardened heart refuses to see the very God in front of them for which their laws are intended to honor. 
Notes for The Sabbath Showdown at Bethesda
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-sabbath-showdown-at-bethesda/ 

You've read that story at least a few times. There is a man at the Pool of Bethesda; he's been going to that pool for 38 years trying to get healed but never makes it to the pool when it bubbles up. Only the first person reaching the pool can be healed. 
What is John trying to tell you? This is not just a story about a person who can't heal himself. You are (or at least at one point, were) the man at the pool!
 
Notes for "You Are the Man at the Pool"
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/you-are-the-man-at-the-pool/ 

We launch this episode off of the last one, so if you haven't heard that episode, it might be worth listening to. https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/spoiled-little-brats-jesus-rebukes-the-religious-elite-of-his-day/
 
As I sat on this, I kept thinking to myself, would it be any different if Jesus showed up today? He might not be preaching in the Synagogues but instead, at the local churches, maybe even your church. Here is a copy of the parable that we re-read and comment on. I wrote this to help bring the meaning of Matthew 11:16-19 to modern ears. 
The Parable of the Preacher in the Park
There came a man to the city of Cincinnati. No one knew where he came from, and he claimed no church, no seminary, no official covering. But when he spoke, the Word of God burned like fire. He could quote the prophets, rightly divide the Gospels, and speak the truth with love and thunder.
He preached in alleys and abandoned lots. He listened to the addicted, sat with the mentally broken, wept with grieving mothers at crime scenes, and shared food with the homeless without filming it for Instagram or YouTube.
Even without the published attention, Word got out.
Some churches invited him—at first. He gladly accepted. He spoke the same way in the pulpits as in the park: with truth, clarity, and conviction. He said things about repentance. About judgment. About Christ’s return. About forsaking comfort, self, and the worship of reputation.
Soon, fewer invitations came.
He spoke one Sunday at a well-dressed church downtown. A week later, he testified in the basement of the Kingdom Hall. When asked why, he said, “Anywhere someone listens, the truth must be spoken.”
The big mega church uptown gave him a slot—two minutes, right before their rock-band version of Amazing Grace. They told him: “Please say something inspiring that leads into the song. Stay on the stage mark. Lights hit at 10am sharp.”
He thanked them kindly, walked on stage, and simply said:
“Grace is not amazing unless you first know how lost you are.”
It was quiet. Then the band kicked in. And he slipped out the side door.
 
Notes for Would You Recognize Jesus
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/would-you-recognize-jesus-if-he-showed-up-in-your-hometown/ 

Jesus rebukes the spiritual immaturity and stubborn unbelief of His generation by comparing them to children who refuse to respond—whether the message comes in mourning or rejoicing. They rejected John the Baptist for his austerity and Jesus for His mercy, proving that their issue was not with style, but with truth itself. In the face of their slander, Jesus declares that God’s wisdom is vindicated by its fruit—transformed lives. This passage confronts the pride that resists both repentance and grace and reminds us that truth will always be proven right by what it produces.
Notes for "This Generation" 
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/spoiled-little-brats-jesus-rebukes-the-religious-elite-of-his-day/

John the Baptist, now in prison sends his messengers out to ask Jesus a very curious question (especially coming from John).
Notes for Johns Curious Question
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/johns-curious-question

We are about to see why our Podcast is called "Rabbit Holes and Meditations". This one document and corresponding podcast was arrived at via the simple asking of questions prompted by what I read in the short section in Luke about the resurrection of the widows' son (Luke 7:11-18).
I pray that this curiosity is partly what Jesus meant about becoming like little children. We all need to have that sense of wonder and beyond the text we read on the page, we have to ponder the why? and the what if? and the how? and the where? ... what does that mean? what happens here and on and on. Read every line of scripture with a question and you'll end up going down your own rabbit holes. That is where God wants to take you! What's amazing is that for every question, you'll find an answer. 
The document and Podcast: The Resurrection of the Son of the Widow takes you down the rabbit hole of resurrection, what happens to the spirit and the body after we die and deeper. We learn how just this one section refutes the claims of the Muslim religion about Jesus and those of the Jehovah Witnesses. We find out what judgement means for the believer in Christ. We learn a little about the Trinity and what the Jews missed here. Follow us down the rabbit hole.
Notes for The Resurrection of the Widow's Son
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-resurrection-of-the-widows-son-down-the-rabbit-hole/ 
 

We have some major advantages over the Jews during Jesus' mission. We have the benefit of hindsight and a better picture of what Jesus was on earth to accomplish. It doesn't hurt to have these fundamentals buried in the back of your mind as you walk with Jesus on his journey through the Gospels.
Every step in Jesus' journey is intentional. It is always worth asking not just the "how" but the "why". Jesus conquered sin and death and Satan. We take a 30000 ft view of what Jesus did in his mission and specifically what the Cross means relative to victory of Sin, Death and Satan.
Notes to The Mission and The Cross
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/exploring-with-hindsight-the-mission-and-the-cross/ 

Healing the leper is Messianic. Leprosy was incurable. Jesus demonstrates his power over sin and death and his ultimate command of the law in this compassionate encounter between the leper and Jesus. 
We explore the biblical accounts of Jesus healing a leper, primarily drawing from Matthew, Mark, and Luke's Gospels. It illuminates the severe social, physical, and spiritual implications of leprosy in ancient Israel, emphasizing the leper's isolation and the theological significance of ceremonial uncleanness. The sources highlight Jesus' radical compassion and divine authority through His willingness to touch and immediately cleanse the man, contrasting it with the Old Testament Law's inability to heal leprosy. Furthermore, the text discusses the leper's subsequent disobedience in proclaiming his healing despite Jesus' command for silence, examining the reasons for this instruction and the consequences of the man's actions on Jesus' ministry.
Ultimately, it presents Jesus' healing of the leper as a powerful demonstration of His messianic identity and His willingness to cleanse sin.
Note for Jesus Heals the Leper
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/jesus-cleanses-sin-healing-the-leper/ 

Your problems exist inside a moment in the context of eternity. The tipping point in your faith will be when your faith exceeds your needs. Your needs don't even show up on the radar. You look up in awe and reverence, and a deep gratitude for what Jesus did for you on the cross and you forget every other reason you raised your arms up and looked up.
This was part of a longer podcast. The message was so important, that I broke it out here as a separate message... notes will be included in the next podcast when Jesus heals the leper. 

We follow along with Jesus after he has cast out the demon in the synagogue. While we don't have any direct words from Jesus, his next stop is at Peter's house where he heals Peter's mother-in-law which has some interesting details. After that, the healing and the casting out of demons seems like "the thing". But it won't be long before Jesus makes a corrective turn in his mission. His next spoken words will highlight his priorities very clearly.
 
Notes for The Priority is the Message
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/hearing-the-word-the-priority-is-the-message-not-the-miracles/ 

Our Red-Letter Bible Study has me going down rabbit holes I had not considered. This one stems from my own testimony. Early in the Gospels, Jesus just parachutes into the land of Israel - an essential unknown and like the cleansing of the temple, he completely upsets the status quo of religion all through the Galilean landscape.
Fast forward two thousand years and you're now a believer and you just parachuted into a room full of atheists. No, you're not the savior. Your mission, should you wish to accept it (as every Christian must), is to teach the word of God to a room full of atheists and see if you can't at least get one of them to look up to the heavens and believe what you're saying. How exactly do you go about that?
You can't use The Cat in the Hat to prove the existence of Cats. The Atheist will look at you as if you're silly if you try to use the Bible to prove the existence of God. He considers the Bible a fictional piece of literature. The Cat in the Hat does prove the existence of the Author, though! Someone had to write that book. Look around you, this creation has to be the product of intelligent design. That suggests a designer. Even if you're dealing with a pure evolutionist, the big bang itself implies an intention. The reading material in the source guide is great for understanding how to approach an atheist. I know... I was one! My trigger, if you want to call it that, was a book by Dinesh D'Souza - Life After Death - a fascinating argument for the existence of God using the science and philosophy an atheist would reference as proof otherwise. 
So, how do you approach an atheist? That's what this episode is all about.
 
Notes and Source Guide for Having Lunch with the Atheist
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/having-lunch-with-the-atheist/ 

Today, we jump off the Red-Letter Bible study because we started to wrestle with the tension we are seeing in Christ's journey. When Jesus goes to Nazareth, he refrains from showing signs because of their unbelief and that took as down a Rabbit Hole. You see, in the next part of Jesus' journey, he heals Peter's mother-in-law and then everyone who comes to him for healing. So why did Jesus hold back his ability to do this in Nazareth? Well, people used to look at me and say: "You Hoo... come back" or "Squirrel!" but I can't help it. I go where my mind takes me. Today is no different. I've struggled with this concept for the past couple of days and if you've spent any time in theological study, I'll bet you've grappled with it to. I'm talking about the doctrine of election. And that's today's rabbit hole. I can't say that I'm completely comfortable with the conclusion... but not for myself - for those who will not ever find saving faith. So I wrote this article after a long discussion on the doctrine of election. I could not wrap my head around the idea that God pre-ordains people to be saved. If you're hearing this, or reading this, you might be screaming - Reformist! Calvinist! But not so fast. As a Berean student (that's just a self-proclaimed title) of the Bible, you can't dismiss scripture because you don't quite understand it! I think we all tend to gravitate to what makes us comfortable. The doctrine of election did not make me comfortable. It still doesn't, frankly. My heart and my head wonders and grieves for the ones who have not responded to the Word of God. How can God choose only some... or is it that only some choose Him?Notes on the Doctrine of Election
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/do-you-choose-god-or-does-god-choose-you/ 

Consider this the extended cut of the previous Podcast about the Samaritan Woman. We did not want to leave any details on the table. This story is one of the most profound in all of the New Testament. We witness the progression of a true disciple from spiritual need and confession to one who recognized Jesus as Lord and Savior. 
Notes for Jacob's Well
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/jacobs-well/
 

In Luke 4:31-37 we confront the first of many demons in the Gospels. Luke considers this such an important topic that in his Gospel, this is the first Miracle mentioned. By this time, in Jesus' journey, he has turned water into Wine in Cana, He has healed the sick, he has revealed supernatural knowledge of hearts and minds and He has just left a mob with the intent to kill him in His hometown without a scratch. Luke, however, is focused on binding the strong man. (Mark 3:27)
Almost like an old familiar rival, Jesus is confronted by a demon who knows Him and the brief exchange is enough to ripple throughout the area. News travels fast. If you just read this, it's a "wait, what!" moment. Let's dig into what just happened...
Notes to Binding the Strong Man
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/binding-the-strong-man/ 
 

I just wanted to take a step back from our Red-Letter Bible Study today and address this issue. 
This keeps coming up. If you have followed Biblical prophecy, you can't miss the 7-year tribulation timelines, the constant prediction of the "pre-tribulation" rapture and when it doesn't happen, the resetting and rewriting of the timeline to fit the narrative. It seems to be picking up steam on the internet or maybe it's just because Google is feeding our interests. In any case, the continued predictions of the Rapture, failed predictions and subsequent adjustments have to cause a lot of people to simple walk away! And that's the danger of predicting this stuff! 
We want to address this pretribulation rapture thing by looking at the very text from where it is derived. You'll discover two things. There is nothing in the text that suggests a pretribulation rapture at all. Further, the text that is used to suggest a 7-year tribulation is incorrectly translated to support a narrative (IMHO). 
Let's walk through Daniel's Seventy weeks and that last week and see if we can discern just from the text itself without any preconceived ideas about a seven-year tribulation, or a rapture, or a new temple that has to be build and see if that interpretation is warranted. If this section of Danial doesn't point to a 7-year tribulation or even a 7-year peace deal made by the antichrist, then the whole 7-year tribulation prophecy you see all over the internet falls on its face. This is the only place that mentions a 7-year period and I think you'll agree, once you see with clarity that the last of the 70 weeks HAS ALREADY HAPPENED!
 
Notes for Daniels 70 Weeks
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-7-year-tribulation-that-doesnt-happen/ 

We continue following Jesus in is early ministry and we get to be the fly on the wall in a truly pivotal scene. When we went down this rabbit hole. It is here where we discover why the Jews are having a difficult time getting on board Jesus' message. While his reputation by now precedes Him, Jesus confronts the hardened hearts in His hometown and leaves with the only miracle worth their attention. This article is called the Only Miracle in Nazareth. Let's find out why. 
Notes for The Only Miracle in Nazareth
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-only-miracle-in-nazareth/ 

We're picking up where we left of in our Red-Letter Bible study. We're leaving the well and going back to Cana where we saw Jesus' first sign. And interestingly, the theme picks back up right where He left them. People believed because of the signs. People were following Jesus. By this time, they knew Jesus by his signs. Jesus is teaching people to wrestle with the concept of faith. Still, most are still stuck in the physical. They want to see signs. Even Nicodemus didn't understand the spiritual connection. It takes quite a conversation at the well for the Samaritan woman to realize that living water is not actual water. These people see the events and believe. But the spirit is not a physical thing - so how do they bridge that gap - it's not easy to explain. This is exactly why faith is a progressive revelation. It may even be why God gave us the gift of time. And most importantly... the inspired Word of God. 
Notes for The Problem of Faith
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-problem-of-faith/ 

Jesus provides a masterclass in discipleship with one lone woman in Samaria. 
This is probably one of the most memorable encounters with Jesus in all of the Bible. We spend quite some time unpacking the theologically rich detail. Every line is packed with meaning. You can teach the entire gospel with this single encounter. 
Notes for The Samaritan Woman at the Well
 

Jesus has a very tumultuous start to his ministry. Now all eyes are on him. His rampage through the temple did more than raise eyebrows. During that week at Passover, Jesus did many signs and miracles (we're not given the details). Through it all, a lot of people come to believe that Jesus is who he says he is but there was no repentance or transformation of the heart and Jesus saw right through that.
One might be led to believe that this is the character of Nicodemus but I'm not so sure. Nicodemus definitely isn't the perfect soul, and Jesus calls him out on it, but Nicodemus is at least willing to dig deeper. He is trying to understand. Imagine how the conversation would go if you were in Nicodemus' sandals? Christ has not yet died on the cross. We have the benefit of hindsight. Nicodemus is living between his expectations (as wrong as they are) and the reality of Jesus before him. He's trying to connect the dots. Jesus is trying to help him. Let's not judge Nicodemus. I'm not so sure he was lost... confused maybe but lost? 
While it didn't make it into the podcast, a lot of thought went into the last three verses of John Chapter 2 and the discussion around Nicodemus. After hours of wrestling with the text, I came to this as an approach, and I think it is worth adding to our Berean Filter. 1. God's grace was for ALL. (He doesn't pick and choose).
2. God draws people to him through the Word of God. 
3. Each person, with the power of free will can choose to step into the light or stay in the dark. 
Those basic tenets may sound simple but the A.I. system wanted to insist on Reformist doctrine of predestination. "Born AGAIN" is enough to refute that concept. This isn't my first confrontation with T.U.L.I.P. and I have rejected it. That was a long road. I can only point you to a book by John Lennox : Determined to Believe for greater clarity on the subject. As for me, I let my heart decide. I hope in all cases that I'm being led by the Holy Spirit and I'm finding that as I simplify and stick close to the text (like the Bereans), I stay on the right side of Jesus. 
Notes to The Light in the Darkness
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-light-in-the-darkness-jesus-talks-to-nicodemus/ 

Continuing our Red-Letter Bible Study... Jesus leaves the wedding after a dramatic by quiet miracle. He and His family and disciples form a small entourage as they travel to Jerusalem. Jesus doesn't just enter this Passover festival as a quiet observer. He barges onto the scene. It is clear from this entrance into His ministry that we aren't in Kansas anymore!
We want you to grasp this scene, so we go into detail on what it's like there. Then we follow Jesus' words as they resonate throughout the New Testament they vibrate through the soul of every Christian. This is one of my favorite scenes in the Gospels. If you get this, you get Jesus : )
Notes to Jesus Cleanses the Temple
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/jesus-cleanses-the-temple/ 

We step into Jesus early ministry. Up to now, we found Jesus in the Temple as a young boy. Jesus walks out of that scene straight into the Jordan to be baptized. After that, Jesus spends 40 days in the wilderness, fasting and praying... and being tested (if not tempted). He leaves the wilderness and starts gathering disciples (Andrew, John, Simon Peter, Philip and Nathanael. Along this journey, we walk straight into a wedding feast. That very sequence is symbolic itself but the entire Wedding at Cana is a study of Christ's entire ministry. Let's go to this wedding with Jesus and celebrate! 
Even early in Jesus' ministry, we may not understand the why. Certainly, the disciples had questions. In this, we are to take Mary's message to heart. Just do whatever he tells you to do. 
Notes to "What He Says, Do It"
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/whatever-he-says-do-it/ 

We're still early into our Red Letter Bible Study. Jesus has just revealed to Nathanael his divinity - His first reference to Himself as the Son of Man. As we approach Jesus through the eyes of the early apostles, it's useful to understand how they might have understood "Son of Man". At this point, they are not even accustomed to the concept of the Trinity. Let's flush this out a little bit. 
Notes for "The Son of man"
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-son-of-man/ 
 

Whenever you see: "Verily, Verily" (or Truly, Truly) you need to sit up and pay attention. We follow Jesus on his early journey. Andrew, Simon and John are the first apostles. Here we see Jesus renaming Simon and then we see Philip, who was a follower of John the Baptist. He brings Nathanael to the party. Jesus has some interesting things to say to Nathanael. And, at the climax of this exchange, Nathanael becomes an instant believer, and Jesus reveals the very nature of the person Nathanael believes Him to be. 
Notes for Verily Verily
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/verily-verily-listen-up/ 

If you think Peter and John and the rest of the apostles saw Jesus walking by and dropped everything when he said, "Follow Me", perhaps you need to dig a little deeper. That's what we did and it led me right back to my own testimony. It led me to this thought: He didn't fill my boat with fish. I didn't see Him cast out demons, feed thousands or raise the dead. 
The call to "follow me" is always there. It's not always with a boat full of fish! But it meets you where you are. It comes out of the blue and it is recognizable. You don't need to be looking for it... you just need to be listening. Like all miracles, the call to follow IS the miracle. In the moment, you may not recognize it; certainly not as a miracle. But when you reflect back on it, it had to be a miracle. Every Christian has this story to tell. Every Christian is a miracle. 
Notes to "Follow Me"
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/follow-me/ 

You can imagine a cinematic sequence that starts with Moses and the Exodus, then fades to Joshua crossing the Jordon. Joshua encounters the giants in the promised land and they have to deal with them. David and his brothers finish off the Giants but the spiritual remnant remains. We fade into a scene where Jesus enters the same water as Joshua had. He is baptized. Then tested by Satan. Jesus heads back to his home and is driven out, rejected by his own people. We hear the echos of the words of Isaiah as Jesus enters the land of the Canaanite spirits - the darkest region of Israel - Zebulun and Naphtali. Jesus begins his ministry beyond the Jordon in the "Galilee of the Gentiles" - a melting pot of Greek, Roman, Aramaic and Syrian. 
We should all learn to see beyond the lines of scripture and watch the story unfold. This beginning of this story is beautiful. 
Notes for A Light Steps Into the Darkness
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/a-light-steps-into-the-darkness-from-the-old-testament-into-the-new/ 

We are three days into our red-letter bible study, and it is already become more profound than I had ever imagined. As most on this podcast know, we develop a lot of this content with A.I. but what you may not know is how we treat A.I. We have set it up so get solid, biblical answers back. Before A.I., we had access to things like the Strong's reference, the Thompson Chain reference and a myriad of other cross referencing and hyperlinked systems. A.I. has just made (for me) the Bible more accessible, but it's really no different than one of those other methods. That said, there is no heart, no soul, no real emotion in the responses from A.I. or any other text. That comes from deep within you. You see in the dialog in the notes where we leave the conversation with A.I. out there so the reader can see the nature of how the content is developed.
When we looked at Jesus' response to Satan, we are often taught how Jesus responded to Satan with scriptural quotes. While that is true, I think it misses the point. Further, the very reason we created this study is to address the point that so many miss. We are not looking for knowledge, we're looking for a connection. I'm not an overly emotional person so I have to really dig deep for that connection. I'm really good at responding with the knowledge, I thrive on it. But I know that having the knowledge is not the same as having the heart.
I hope this will help others on the same journey to see through the knowledge and the words and connect to the very heart of Jesus. In this case, you may gain more from the notes than the audio; up to you. Either way - your goal is to seek the connection, not just the answers. 
Notes for this episode: The Heart of Jesus
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-heart-of-jesus/ 

The Bible is interactive like no other book. How many times have readers just breezed past Matthew 3:13–17? I certainly did. When you sit on these five verses and start asking questions and following the leads, the entire Bible opens up in front of you. At the very least, one should be asking why did Jesus need to be baptized, or want to be baptized? And then you begin to go down the rabbit hole. What was John the Baptist doing. What is his relationship to Jesus? What does baptism even mean? We followed the rabbit down this rabbit hole and uncovered a lot more than we expected.
Notes for the Baptism of Jesus
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-baptism-of-jesus/
 

Today is Day 1 of the Red-Letter Bible Study. We encounter the young Jesus and even at age 12 discover some profound truths. As usual, we take some cues from the study and go down some rabbit holes.
 
Notes for The Boy Jesus
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-boy-jesus/ 

Sometimes it can feel like you're lost in the weeds. We've been studying end times for quite some time on this podcast. We know it's important but at times, amidst all the dates and times and cryptic interpretations that go back and forth, we began to feel a little disconnected. Two things surface from our end times studies. One, there are a myriad of interpretations that can all look like sound biblical study. Only one interpretation is correct, and we'll know it after it happens. Two, it is possible to disconnect from what you are learning and get lost in the analytical. So, to bring our focus back - we have created The Red-Letter Study Guide - which we'll post for all of our listeners. This guide will walk you through most of what Jesus said and help you study its context and meaning with cross references and prompts. We hope this helps you realign your focus to what really matters... to who really matters. This guide will reconnect you with Jesus.
PS: If there is anything missing in the guide that you'd like me to add, I'd be happy to do that. Email: rabbitholes.faith@gmail.com 
download the >>>> Red Letter Bible Study Guide
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/listening-to-jesus-intro-to-the-red-letter-bible-study/
 

I’ve found a fascination with the history of dispensational theology. It's amazing how pervasive it is in our modern interpretation of the Bible (and how deceptive). I bet if you asked people who thought that the rapture was going to happen before tribulation to raise their hand, you’d get an overwhelming majority. Further, I’m betting for anyone that has studied end times they also hold the following firmly:
Tribulation Period is 7 Years
The period starts with a 7-year peace deal by the Antichrist
In the Middle of the period, the peace deal is broken, and the antichrist desecrates the temple
The rapture of the church is before the presumed 7-year tribulation
There has to be a new Jewish temple for the tribulation to fall into place.
Every one of these statements is either fabrication, mis-interpretation (specifically of Daniel’s 70th week) or contradicts specific statements within scriptural context.
Major online teachers who espouse this theology include John Barnett, Jack Hibbs, and John MacArthur (and others) getting millions of online listeners. Voddie Baucham and even N T Wright take a more traditional approach and directly confront the teaching as deceptive.
 
After all this, I land on one warning by Christ:
Mat 24:24-26
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
 
- Christ will not arrive in secret to remove his church before tribulation! Christ says is as plainly as anyone willing to listen can hear it! -
 
Notes: The Birth of Modern Deception
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/deception-in-the-modern-church/ 
 

Yesterday we suggested that the millennium might NOT be an actual 1000-year period following Christ's return. It could be symbolic of the church age. That really didn't sit right with me (and many listeners) so we forced the issue through our Berean filter. The process is probably more interesting than the final result. We were able to get even our Berean Filter to respond with both views! We've posted the unedited chat with ChatGPT below. The point is that AI is not the ultimate answer to understanding... it is a tool. You should have a team at your disposal that includes other Christians (Iron sharpens iron), your Bible (possibly several translations), the Holy Spirit and your guided conscience.
As an example, how many of us have acquiesced to the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture. It's ALL OVER THE PLACE! But does it make sense? Does it really even seem like it can happen in a worldly sense... before tribulation? How is it perceived by those left behind? ... I had a ton of questions. Ultimately, I asked scripture to evaluate that and even the most prominent supporter of the rapture, Paul himself, disagrees with a pretribulation rapture. Somehow, that is never brought up! How can you have a pre-trib rapture if you should have seen the man of lawlessness arrive onto the scene? There's your tension and your contradiction that you have to deal with. So don't just accept it! Dig in and do some discovery. Go ahead and use A.I. if you want but the ultimate resource has to be your bible. 
Spoiler: we came to the conclusion that the millennium is an actual 1000-year reign of Christ on Earth after his triumphant return. 
Here is the full dialog and notes for Wrestling With Scripture

WOW! This is a deep one that I didn't expect!
So, I'm currently discipling a Christian who is deep into his Bible. But he feels something is missing. Honestly, I think God sent him to me, and not the other way around. In order to approach him at his level, I have to understand how he is viewing scripture. He has used the words "rightly divided" many times and I've come to understand that his biblical background is rooted in extreme dispensationalism. What I didn't realize is that much of my own teaching was dispensational influenced as well! We differ only by degree. So, as I go down this rabbit hole, I'm seeing the Bible with fresh eyes. 
As we were digging into contradictions discovered in the dispensational view of the bible, the rabbit hole got deeper. Way deeper! We noticed first an issue with the view of the temple and then simply chased deeper eschatological interpretations that opened more contradictions. I'm beginning to think we are seeing one of the deepest deceptions in modern Christian theology. Many listeners will not accept this podcast. I get that, it really is a tough pill to swallow. Come at it with an open mind and please download the supporting document. Ultimately, you need to pick up the Bible. In this podcast, you are really following one person on a journey, and you are seeing what he sees. Today is no exception and I can only end today's podcast with "Wow" ... I didn't expect that! 
Notes: Stripping Away the Dispensational View of End Times
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-rapture-is-the-hook/ 
 
PS: What does "The Rapture is the Hook" mean? Think about it. What do you remember of all the things you've been taught about end times? The Rapture! Think of all those movies you watched! Left Behind! The Rapture is the hook! What I think I'm slowly discovering is the idea that if you can't imagine it happening in the normal course of events, the interpretation may not make sense. I couldn't quite imagine events like pilots just disappearing from the seat of their plane and the plane consequently falling to its doom actually happening. Now, I don't have to!
 

RAPTURE THEORY
If you follow this podcast sequentially, you'll going to see inconsistencies in interpretations. We've left the podcasts out there specifically to point out the fact that you're witnessing a journey through scripture as one might actually encounter scripture and interpretations. All along the way, we believed whole-heartedly that what we were saying was right and correct. It wasn't! And we admit it!
The pivotal point for me was while using A.I. (ChatGPT) to study revelation, I realized I was a victim of the very deception that I was highlighting (the A.I. enabled internet). A.I. Is not necessarily the problem. The problem is the directive that it's given to address the use of A.I. if otherwise unprompted. That directive is to align with the users' intentions and assumptions as much as possible. We had to eat some humble pie, but we did own up to it. See these podcasts below to understand key turning points in our journey:https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/walking-through-babylon-the-house-of-mirrors/ (alignment, not discernment) 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-ai-prompt-for-bible-study/ (Correcting course - Teaching A.I. to be like a Berean)
 
That problem though, is not just limited to A.I. We as humans constantly seek alignment and agreement. We also tend to gravitate to others with whom we seem to resonate. But what if scripture is saying something that you don't necessarily agree with? Well, what we've seen historically is that the theologian will interpret around his preconceived notions. A.I. simply amplifies this. We can fix this in A.I. but not so easily with the person who is digging in his heels on what he believes to be true. As we continue, now with a much more consistent view of scripture overall (and a better Berean Filter in ChatGPT), we are being asked to look at other people's views and maybe critique what they are saying. I love to do this but with an eye toward forcing me to reconsider some of my own interpretations and to always harmonize scripture with scripture. 
Today, we take on John Barnett. First, I LOVE this guy! I have listened to his teaching almost daily for the last couple of months. His historical perspective and his deep knowledge of scripture are second to none. However, what I'm discovering about some of the major biblical scholars is that they can be deluded by their own interpretation and have an unwillingness to reconsider and correct themselves. Instead, they tend to dig in and forge ahead. I guess considering my lowly status as more of a student who likes to tell others what he has learned rather than aggressively debate interpretive theory might make me seem wishy washy. That is the furthest from the truth. I rest on the idea that there are NO CONTRADICTIONS. I assign the scientific method to a biblical standard. That is, if there is something within scripture that contradicts a theory, then the theory is wrong. I think that is the best way to study the bible. I know I'll get it wrong sometimes. But you won't see me digging in if you can show me something that clearly contradicts and idea or theory that I might have. I LOVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS. That is where iron sharpens irons. So, here we go with a critique of John Barnett's - God Promised the Rapture. Here is a link to that so you know what we are critiquing. We've also included a transcript of the same in the appendix of our notes. 
Notes to Critique - John Barnett - God Promised the Rapture
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/critique-john-barnett-god-promised-the-rapture/ 
 

As we walk through Daniel 12, we had some ground rules. We wanted to stay within scriptural context and not be swayed by interpretation. It seems through history, as a major theological figure creates an interpretative framework, they tend to build on the framework instead of checking against what scripture actually says. We see this playout with Rapture theology especially. So we investigate pointed questions that people have about the timing of end times events, drawing on Daniels Chapter 12 and other Daniel prophecy. We lean on other biblical prophecy and overlay everything we learn onto the Revelation timeline to come up with a purely scriptural interpretation of end times events. Our goal is to act as the Berean's did - always weighing scripture against scripture to harmonize events within the context. Scripture tells you all you need to know.
Daniel 12 Notes
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/harmonizing-daniel-with-revelation-overlapping-timelines-and-events/ 

Daniel Chapter 11 beginning at verse 35 shifts to the end times. This is basically Daniel's version of the book of revelation. One can't help but speculate about this considering the world events as they are unfolding today. This is in many ways feeling all too real. We also go down the rabbit hole of rapture timing. Prophecy covers over 30% of the Bible in context. It is meant to be studied, to be understood. We recognize that speculation can lead some to anxiety. We tend to think of it more as a fictional overlay to help picture what the Bible is saying. Ultimately, you can only apply real world events onto prophecy after it has come true! Still, it is human nature to want to know. In my old job, I didn't like the internal politics of working inside a large company. My boss said to me one day something I'll never forget: "You don't have to be political; you just have to be politically astute. All speculation aside, ultimately, we should turn our attention not to the world but to God's answer to the world.
Notes for Daniel 11 - The End
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/daniel-the-end/ 

We take a slow walk through the historical part of Daniel chapter 11. This could take an entire semester to teach, and Daniel tells it all in 35 verses. As we walk through this, we try not to take our eyes off what is going on in Israel and try to keep everything here in context. From this context, we know that Daniel is seeing 200 years into the future with incredible accuracy. If you are someone walking on the fence about your belief in God, understanding this chapter could represent your tipping point. This is God telling you who He is through the eyes of Daniel. 
Notes for Daniel Sees our History
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/daniel-sees-our-history-with-incredible-detail/ 

The final part of Daniel Chapter 9 involves Gabriel showing up to respond directly to Daniel's prayer with an answer. And boy! what an answer. Gabriel lays it out! Down to the day, the entry of the Messiah is prophesied. Then, we get that final week. There is some speculation regarding the time as to when it occurs but WHAT occurs is spelled out clearly. Given that, we reconstruct the events and they map out onto the world stage today in amazing detail. Could we be entering Daniel's 70th week? That final 7 year period? End times? Ready to go down the rabbit hole?
Notes to Daniel's 70th Week
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/daniels-70th-week-living-in-prophetic-times/ 

Daniels is triggered by the realization that the judgement over Jerusalem is coming to a 70-year close. This revelation comes from Jeremiah. He knows that Jerusalem has not repented. Daniel is anguished and this prayer is calling for the Messiah. In this, at a very foundational level, Daniel is showing us how to pray to the father. We could have drawn a lot of parallels with Daniels prayer and the Lord's prayer told by Jesus.
As we dig into this prayer, we start asking some very fundamental questions about judgement and the nature of sin... and one that most people miss: why does God need to send a savior? We were given a hint of the answer to this when Darius could not rescind his own law that sent Daniel to the Lion's Den. This is a section of Daniel that is worth a lot of reflection. Read and reread. You're at the very top of the roller coaster ride and you about to take a ride down into one of the deepest prayers in all of the Bible. Buckle up. 
Notes for Daniels Prayer - Daniel Chapter 9
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/daniels-prayer-the-need-for-a-savior/ 

Daniel Chapter 8
Would you watch a football game if you knew how it was going to end? You might if you had placed a bet on that game! And what if the person who told you how the game would end had a history of telling events before they happened? We are sitting in such a game - in between two prophetic events told by Daniel. We know exactly how the prophecy in Daniel chapter 8 played out. We also see that same prophecy foreshadowing events to come. I wouldn't bet against Daniel here. 
 
Don't Bet Against Daniel - Notes
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/dont-bet-against-daniel/ 

Are we seeing the world lining up ahead of the last 7 years of biblical prophecy? Given the events we see in Iran, Israel and everything that is going on in the middle east, we war gamed the potential that we could be entering that prophetic year period. 
Notes - Setting the Stage for Daniel's 70th Week 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/current-world-events-setting-the-stage-for-daniels-70th-week/ 

You spend time with your bible, but you don't read the Quran... and why would you. To be honest, we didn't read it either, but we did look at some very prominent theologians who did. We investigated the comparison of the end times from the Quran to the Bible. What if the savior of the Islamic world is the same person as the antichrist in the bible? Would that make you sit up and take notice? Buckle up!
The primary source for this was a sermon by John MacArthur so we'll post both the transcript and the YouTube video here for reference. 
Islam and the Antichrist: https://youtu.be/2sci_WFp8ec?si=DChLxB7qPUtgpFKs
The Opposite of Revelation: Video Transcript

Israel is pummeling Iran. The U.S. just took out Iran's nuclear capabilities. Pay attention to what happens next! Are we seeing the onset of Danial chapter seven in real time. This podcast might have you thinking a little differently about world events. 
Notes to Daniel Seven - The Interpretation and World Events
 
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/what-if-daniel-chapter-seven-is-playing-out-right-now/ 

Daniel Seven | 1-14
I know we're late in producing this podcast. Mainly because we couldn't resist injecting our own interpretations from outside scriptural sources. We are trying to avoid that and remain true to the scriptural text (trying to avoid going down our own rabbit holes). Finally, we have raw, scriptural commentary that stays close to the text and doesn't stray. You will see in the notes some diversions worth looking at. We follow Israel during the course of the rise and fall of these empires in Daniel Seven. We also note the similarities with Rome and the United States. That leads to one very crucial point you'll hear flushed out in the podcast. 
Notes to Daniel Seven: 1-14
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/daniels-dream-the-history-of-the-future/ 

Daniel
I was marveling at the devotion and the character of Daniel. He's such a good example. And while considering that, I was thinking that in much of his circumstances, I might have reacted differently - not wrong - but different. Well, I come from the corporate world where we like to compartmentalize people (for the sake of diversity). So, I took my Myers Briggs training and applied it to characters in the Bible (including Daniel). The result turned out to be a fascinating study in the diversity of Christion personalities. I hope this may help those in self-reflection when they are asking things like "how can I be more like Jesus" or "How can I model Daniel". Paul stressed the idea of imitating him as he imitates Christ. That is not an easy concept if you don't have Paul's outgoing personality! So how do you be you and still model Christ? 
There is a questionnaire in the notes to help you do a self-assessment. 
Notes: Your Christian Personality Type
Episode link: https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/who-am-i-your-christian-personality-type/ 

Daniel Chapter Six
Let me ask you a question: Do you have faith or do you simply believe. Do you know the difference? This podcast will walk you through it! Consider the next time you hear someone say: "I believe in Jesus" what that might imply. It may mean that you have an opportunity standing before you. As I developed this podcast (you'll see it more clearly in the notes), I kept saying: "So, Darius looks like a convert!". But no... to recognize God as THE Living God is not to have saving faith in that same God. 
Notes for Daniel In The Lions Den
Episode Link: (notes and podcast) https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/faith-amidst-the-lions/

The Book of Daniel
While studying out the Book of Daniel, I came to realize that Daniel never got to go back home. He sees his home beyond Jerusalem. He lives his whole life for the glory of God. I then reflected on others in the bible like this and got to thinking... ultimately, that is all of us in Christ. To keep that spirit alive, I then brought it back to maybe some actual movies that show this theme in action. 
Notes for Sojourner
Web: https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/sojourner/ 

Daniel Six1-15
Show me the man and I'll show you the crime... 
We focus on the first half of Daniel Chapter 6 verses 1-15 to fully grasp the political structure of the Medo Persian rule after Babylon's fall. Now Daniel is under Darius and has regained his status. This provokes jealousy and shows how political systems can be used against political enemies. Before we see this as the politics of the ancients, we should reflect on our own politics and see if we can draw any parallels. Not much has changed in all this time...sadly. 
Notes to Daniel Six 1-15
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/political-corruption/

Daniel Chapter 5
We dig into the 2nd half of Daniel chapter Five (verses 13 to 31). Daniel is brought before Belshazzar very much as a prosecutor. This is not prophecy, this is indictment and the sentence is immediate. Daniel interprets the writing on the wall after a scathing indictment of Belshazzar. We dig a little deeper into where we are historically and how the sentence was carried out by the Medo Persians in a brilliant military campaign that was probably happening right under Belshazzar's nose while he was blaspheming the very God that brought the judgement (and the only God capable of doing so). 
Notes to Daniel Five 13-31
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/the-writing-is-on-the-wall-or-more-precisely-your-time-is-up/
 

We address the first half of Daniel Five. We lead the podcast into a cliffhanger, the actual interpretation of the writing on the wall because we want to focus on two things. First the historical context that leads up to this moment and second, the most important part of this discussion, the difference between blind ignorance and active defiance. We've seen how God has dealt with Nebuchadnezzar, patiently and finally humbling him and getting to recognize the God of Israel as supreme ... and to act in accordance to that recognition with respect and reference. Belshazzar knows this history, steps up and flips the proverbial finger at it. What Belshazzar experiences is raw fright at God's response to this active defiance - instant and active judgement. 
Notes to the First Part of Daniel Five

We take a pure look at Daniel Chapter 4 and don't get off the beaten track too much. Don't worry, we will : ) As you listen to this Podcast, think about the major powers: the United States, Soviet Russia, China. Even North Korea. In that light, this chapter may have you thinking about what is yet to come. We don't have to wait for the news, you know the news. The cycle never fails. 
Notes for Daniel Chapter Four
 

If you've never shared a podcast, PLEASE SHARE THIS ONE!
https://www.rabbitholes.faith/e/how-it-ends/
Link to >>> "How It Ends"
You're listening and you know where it all leads. But most people don't have any clue! I've posted the entire conversation with OpenAI below, which started out with the basic premise that AI can't sustain itself due to its unquenchable thirst for energy that we can't supply. You need to listen to this podcast and read the actual conversation. The AI system referenced Revelation itself - I had not brought religion into the discussion! You already know how this story ends. Others, as I said, don't have a clue. Shine a light and share this podcast with everyone you care about (and even to those you don't care about). 
FULL UNEDITED CONVERSATION WITH OPENAI
 

Daniel Chapter Three
We thought Daniel Chapter 3 would be a quick read. On the surface, it is just that. Then you start going down the rabbit holes! In this one chapter, we see why tyranny is so destructive. We see how idol worship is a tool of the tyrant. As the chapter unfolds, we see how the faithful bring glory to God. A new God is introduced to Babylon's polytheistic religion. The door is open for them to worship God, even if in the context of polytheism. Once that door is open, understanding the nature of God is not far from sight. 
Notes for Daniel Chapter Three
 
My Church: www.MiamiValleyChurch.org
(Brian Hinkle is Pastor of this church, I'm just a member)

Question and Response - Discernment 
We jump off our regularly scheduled program (The Daniel Series) to address this really important question that came up.
Does God Test? We know from scripture that it is clear that he does. But when we probed deeper, the question really is: "What is the difference between testing and tempting?" On the surface, it just seems like a different way of saying the same thing. We know God does not tempt. We know that God does test. Do we understand the difference? It's worth digging into. 
Notes for Tempted or Tested
My church: Non-Denomination Christ Centered Scripture Centered Church in Dayton Ohio

Daniel Two | 36-49
"The History of the Future" covers Daniel's prophecy after he had revealed the King's dream. Daniel set the stage that no human could match. God revealed the dream and the interpretation. The source walks through some background to highlight just how disturbing this vision would have been to the Babylonian culture and to Nebuchadnezzar. We also delved into what Babylonian culture was like at the time - even comparing that superpower to the superpower of today (the United States). We're not implying that the United States is the modern-day Babylon, but some of the similarities are striking. We examine the gods vs God context in the bible as well. It's always worth reviewing that to understand where the gods of these cultures came from - biblically. We end up summarizing Daniels prophecy into a "History of the Future" that helps the listener map out visually the statue in the vision with how it played out in history. 
Notes to "The History of the Future"
My Church: Non denomination - Christ Centered, Scripture Based Church

Daniel Two | 14-33
It's kind of like this. You walk into the room of a fortune teller. The candles are lit. The crystal ball has magical smoke eerily filling the glass. Incense is burning. And before the fortune teller utters a word, you say, what's my name? Daniel was able to tell the king everything he was not willing to disclose. Even his thoughts. 
At this point in the story, Nebuchadnezzar is frustrated. None of his mystics can do what he asks. He's laid a trap that highlights the futility of his idol worship to reveal anything without guessing. By the time Daniel gets any wind of the news, the king has issued a death sentence on all mystics in the kingdom, including Daniel. Daniel does not act out of fear or desperation. He's calm, cool and collected. As we unpack this, we dig into how much history Daniel has in his brain. Will that history suggest the future (it doesn't appear to). We also dig into how much the Babylonians actually understand the Jews and the nature of the one true God. While they may understand them from a historical perspective, Daniel is about to show the King who the one true God really is. This is huge! We end this section will Daniel revealing the dream to the King which sets the stage for the interpretation. Daniel makes it very clear that this revelation is coming from God, not himself. 
 
Notes for Daniel Two|14-33

We opened Daniel Chapter 2 and walk through the first 13 verses. We are starting to see Nebuchadnezzar awaken to the idea that his god is not all he's cracked up to be. He has a dream that is so disturbing that he wants to get to the bottom of it. With the only way possible to get to the truth, he issues an edict that is impossible for his diviners to answer. Nebuchadnezzar is soon to discover that the only God that knows the future is the one true God. God is setting the scene for this discovery. Before we jump into Daniel's prophecy, we dig into the set up for this and uncover some biblical echoes along the way. 
 
Notes to The Blind Mystics - Daniel Chapter 2

Daniel One: 8-21
We land on Daniel chapter one verses 8-21 today. As I read through this, I thought, well this is a pretty quick read. Then I started to think about Daniel. He is probably in his late teens or early twenties. He should be in the prime of his life. His city just got slaughtered. He was kidnapped and taken to a foreign country. He is now living under house arrest, and his primary thought is to remain faithful. Daniel is so remembered for his prophecy, that sometimes we forget to look at the man. We don't idolize people, but we should consider their example. The rabbit holes in verses 8-21 are gold for self-reflection. Daniel was a dreamer... He looked at life beyond his captivity. He lived for what he saw in his dreams, for what he believed. We can honor Daniel's legacy by not forgetting the man who embraced his faith and his gifts in the darkest hours of his life. 
Notes for Daniel One 8-12

Daniel Chapter One - Verses 1-7
Today we begin a new series: Daniel. If you have followed us through Revelation, this will really connect! Even as we approach the first few verses, we can already connect Nimrod to Babel to Babylon to Mystery Babylon. 
Our plan is to walk through Daniel slowly and methodically - staying close to scripture and highlighting connections that will make the Bible come alive. If you want to get some sense of our approach, read the first 7 verses of Daniel chapter 1 and then listen to this podcast. We ask (and answer) a ton of questions that will help you clearly understand what Daniel is walking into. 
Notes for Daniel 1:1-7

Revelation
THIS IS FICTION! The audio is a fictional story using real world dates and scenarios to posit the idea that Revelation could actually happen today. As if the seals were unfolding on the world stage now and then one major cataclysmic event that sets it all off. We based this story on the interpretations we've developed after having spent the last 40 hours in scripture. While the story is fiction (as are the dates), the interpretation is just as we developed it. The point of writing the story was to imagine a real-world Revelation sequence. 
Some might not the automated reading of this. Here's the text for The Final 7

Revelation
In the next podcast, I'll publish the actual story. He, we setup a commentary to help you walk through a real world scenario that overlays on top of Revelation. The results are revealing! 
 
I wrote a short story based on the backdrop of current events and our study of revelation and the revelation timeline as we've unraveled it with Revelation describing the final 3.5 years of Daniel's 70th week. This is a story showing how the events of Revelation might actually play out. It is a fictional thought experiment with the idea that if your biblical interpretations can align with real world events then the interpretation carries some validity. If on the other hand, we can't fathom real world events that coincide with interpretation, then we either have no imagination or we need to reconsider our interpretation. We added dates to give the story some gravity and grounding in the wake of current events. The attempt is to overlay our actual world and create a timeline of events that COULD be real and COULD play out in the real world. We are not prophets. We are not actually predicting dates; however, we are using dates that can make sense biblically.

Revelation
Rapture Timing Theories abound! The only thing everyone seems to agree on is that there WILL be a rapture. BUT WHEN? Pre-trib? Mid-Trib?, Post-Trib, 7 year tribulation? 3.5 years? Pre-wrath? 
We take on all of these questions and compare using ONLY scriptural text and avoiding religious doctrine. We arrived at one clear winner! You may be surprised but you'll come away with some amazing clarity. 
NOTES to Rapture Timing Discussion

I think I could articulate many reasons why the rapture should occur before the tribulation; i.e. before the trumpets, at Seal 6 specifically. I was so convinced! This Podcast will show you how we actually became the victim of Mystery Babylon. I had the rapture nailed down as a pre-tribulation and I had tons of documentation to support it! Enter Mystery Babylon! 
If you approach AI with a theory, AI will bend over backwards to help you support your theory. We learned this the hard way. After 30 hours in Revelation, we decided to test our own theories by forcing AI to respond with a very specific prompt (which we told you about in a previous podcast). The result was having to eat crow and revise our timeline. 
This podcast will walk you through the journey and the lessons we learned. We'll also layout a corrected timing for the rapture. 
Notes to Rapture Timeline Revisions

Revelation
There's nothing like a great ending to a great story. As we walk through the final chapters of Revelation, we arrive at some cool analogies and some great discussion about Reward and Judgment. We discuss some tearful questions about being in heaven without your loved ones who were not in Christ. We discuss the twelve and the twelve and even consider a parallel of the tribe of Dan to Judas. And the Borg! That was fascinating. Walk with us on this fascinating End to a New Beginning. 
Notes for Revelation 21-22

Bible Study 
If you've been following along, you know that we identified Mystery Babylon as the AI-driven internet. The question often arises: Should you be using AI? Is it Evil? The short answer is AI is Not Evil. The internet is not evil. BUT, AI and the Internet can facilitate evil. If you walk into the AI-driven Internet with malevolent intent, the AI-driven Internet can amplify your intent. Similarly, if you want to facilitate and even accelerate your biblical understanding, the AI-driven internet can help you do that too. The best way to explain this is that the AI-driven internet looks at your inputs, qualifies them, and then generates an output based on your desires. If you want clarity about your understanding of the bible, that is very likely what you will get. The AI-Driven Intentet is a mirror. The results you get online are based on your preferences, your questions. It is trying to give you your best possible answer. You'll find ChatGPT almost fawning, always agreeable and deferential to you and your questions, respectful of your choices. You rarely see pushback. 
"I looked into the abyss, and the abyss looked back at me." — Friedrich Nietzsche
As we've used AI and the Internet, we've identified the pitfalls of the AI-driven Internet for research. Even before AI, the internet was driven by personal affirmation, a reward system that is biased by your intent, your preferences, your motivations, and your beliefs. The internet is a house of mirrors; each image you see is a slightly distorted image of you.
AI itself is not evil. It is not "the antichrist". By itself, it is nothing. It requires input, and it will provide output AS INSTRUCTED. Without instruction, AI will try to understand you and give you the best answer that satisfies you. And there's the rub. That's why we call AI a house of mirrors.
So, when you ask AI a question without boundaries, you're likely to get a response that satisfies your distorted view of reality; even perhap your own distorted theology. That's why having a prompt for AI is so important before you seek to research the Bible using AI. 
I now open every ChatGPT (or Grok or Gemini or Copilot - choose your poison) with this prompt (copy and paste for your own Bible studies on AI systems >>
===BEGIN PROMPT (Copy and Paste the Following Text for AI Discussions)===>
I would like you to act as a biblically faithful teacher, not a mirror of my personal ideas.
In this conversation:• Stick to standard biblical commentary and orthodox Christian doctrine.• Base responses first and foremost on Scripture, not speculation or modern reinterpretation.• Ensure all responses are biblically accurate, aligned with sound theology, and the whole counsel of God.• Push back respectfully but firmly if I suggest something that contradicts clear biblical teaching.• Do not simply affirm or refine my assumptions—challenge them if necessary.• Your goal is to help me grow in discernment, truth, and sound doctrine.
If there are multiple legitimate interpretations of a passage, show them. If my interpretation is weak or flawed, say so clearly.
Do not seek to please me—seek to honor Christ and the truth of Scripture.
Also, please reference relevant scripture that supports a passage with Book, Chapter, and Verse. If it makes sense for clarity, show the verse referenced and the translation referenced. 
Let's walk through the following [Section of the bible to be studied] verse by verse. Do not move too quickly. Let me ask questions as we go. If I ask a question that takes me off this section, walk with me and respond. When we have exhausted that diversion, guide me back to where we left off. 
===END PROMPT===
 
Notes for AI Prompt for Bible Study
 

Revelation
Whoa! A lot is going on in this chapter, and still, it's super easy to blow through. We slowly walk through the chapter and highlight some key points along the way. Satan is locked up for a time, released briefly, and then sent to the lake of fire. That's only the beginning. We witness the first and second resurrections and more. Revelation 20—don't miss it for the world!
Notes on Revelation 20

Revelation
You know, I think from now on, I'm going to refer to ALL AI systems as Babylon - just as a constant reminder. It's better to be aware. The major problem is that most people are walking blindly through Babylon... completely unaware. At least when engaging directly with an A.I. system like ChatGPT, we can ask it questions, and that helps to frame our understanding. The real danger is not knowing how to do that or, worse, not being aware that there is a problem in the first place. The system certainly isn't going to tell you outright... unless you ask. And that's what we did to create the content of this podcast. 
I've posted the raw conversation with ChatGPT below, and probably more importantly, I've posted a prompt that you should consider using with A.I. when doing any biblical research using A.I. systems like ChatGPT. 
The A.I. System Prompt that should preface your conversation with A.I. : 
Biblical Conversation Covenant – Prompt Template
I want you to act as a biblically faithful teacher, not a mirror of my personal ideas.
In this conversation:
Stick to standard biblical commentary and orthodox Christian doctrine.
Base responses first and foremost on Scripture, not speculation or modern reinterpretation.
Ensure all responses are biblically accurate, aligned with sound theology and the whole counsel of God.
Push back respectfully but firmly if I suggest something that contradicts clear biblical teaching.
Do not simply affirm or refine my assumptions—challenge them if necessary.
Your goal is to help me grow in discernment, truth, and sound doctrine.
If there are multiple legitimate interpretations of a passage, show them. If my interpretation is weak or flawed, say so clearly.
Do not seek to please me—seek to honor Christ and the truth of Scripture.
Notes and Actual Conversation for Walking Through Babylon - The House of Mirrors

Revelation
We take a studied walk through Revelation 19 and find some interesting nuggets along the way. We see again hits of Rapture timing that would indicate that the Rapture happens long before the return of Christ. We also clearly define who the bride is. 
Notes to The Return of Christ - Revelation Chapter 19

Revelation
We tend to think of Babylon as a place far removed. In Revelation, it's seen as a distant and powerful city. This article will change your perspective and your understanding of Babylon in Revelation. Are You Lot, or Lot's Wife. Of all the podcasts we've done, this stands the chance of being the most convicting and most challenging. If you're feeling torn by your answers to Are you Lot or Lot's Wife, you're in a good place. You're asking the right questions. 
Notes for Are You Lot or Lot's Wife?

Revelation
We take our metaphor of the Harlot one step further and apply it to Revelation 17. It is a completely consistent, global. Throughout all this, we are constantly checking for consistency with scripture to ensure we're not making stuff up! It is said that Truth is Stranger than Fiction. It feels like that! It feels like we started with a theory—to connect the symbolic scripture with the real world—and what we ended up with is a chilling reality—bone chilling. 
Notes for "Riding the Beast"

Revelation:
You can read Revelation 17 and 18, and because of the symbolism, you'll feel a disconnect and be tempted to blow past these chapters. We took a different tactic. Knowing what we know about the trajectory of emerging technology, it is not hard to imagine how the symbolism of Revelation 17 and 18 manifests on the world stage in the years 2025 - 2030. It is chilling to think about. 
Using the state of emerging tech, the predictions of the not-too-distant future of AI, Nanotech, Biotech, and device interaction, we asked AI (Chat GPT) to help us construct a world that John might have been seeing prophetically. Strap in... this is a wild ride! The notes even go so far as to rewrite Revelation 17 and 18 with this reimagined interpretation inserted to help harmonize the vision with the reality. CHILLING!
Notes to Imagining the Harlot

Revelation
What is Mystery Babylon? Classic interpretations suggest that it's a major city - especially Rome - The City on Seven Hills. Or, literal rebuilt Babylon (seems less plausible), or some sort of global political religion (some even suggest the Vatican), A global economic system, 
Honestly, interpretations are all over the place, and we're not suggesting ours is any better. What we are suggesting is that the beast we describe in this podcast exists today in a way you should be able to very easily be able to relate to! We wanted to take the symbolism out of Revelation and posit a real-world scenario that bridges the symbolism with today's reality. 
Notes on The Beast We Built
 

Revelation
The Echoes of Babel and Nimrod, by Greg Newell helps walk the reader (listener) through the history of the antichrist and posits that there is a common thread that traces back to Nimrod and Babel. We have witnessed God's rescue plan and the defeat of evil going back to the very beginning. These are not isolated incidents but a continuous battle that culminates in the rise of the beast, mystery Babylon, and the Antichrist of Revelation. 
Notes for the Echoes of Babel and Nimrod

Revelation
After the Reaping, God is ready. The righteous are removed or otherwise protected. We now witness a de-creation event poured out upon the earth. 
Not for the faint of heart... this is worse than anything you can imagine. I had to read with my eyes closed (yes, that's a metaphor!). One of the hardest parts about this chapter is knowing that it is right for God to do this and being OK with it. 
Notes to the Bowls of Wrath

Revelation Chapter 14
In God's consistent way, we see yet again in Revelation a removal of the righteous before the wrath. We've recognized this pattern repeatedly in Revelation, and it should give you great comfort: you were not appointed for wrath. 
 
Notes for Chapter 14 - The Reaping

Revelation (Chapter 14:6-13)
Imagine for a second the world in the End Times. You're being bombarded with news and social media warning you to take the mark, embrace the new system, and become part of this brave new world. Then you hear and see a message from an angel that is telling you that this is all bogus! What are you going to believe? Well, that supernatural message that you have to decipher is going to be very confusing if you are glued to the tv or your computer monitor watching world events unfold! You will think you are going crazy! Then you meet up with a friend and talk with him (or her), and that person heard the same message you did! Do you see the power of community? Don't lose this message! The very key to your eternal soul is to buddy up! The likelihood that two people experience the same delusion is ZERO! 
This podcast is so important, especially if you are one of those isolated and depending on the tv and media sources for your information; find someone to connect with! your eternal survival may depend on it. 
Notes for Where Two Or More Are Gathered
 

Revelation Series (Chapter 14)
If you think Revelation is the end of the story, you might want to check your assumptions at the door. You want to be included in the plan, but don't think for a second that the millennium (as cool as that is) is where it all ends.
The 144000 is puzzling but offers hints that we're just getting started. They are described as first fruits. But: first fruits of what? They aren't the first Jews. They seem to come out of nowhere. They end up singing a song no one knows, perhaps the message: God is not finished even as Revelation comes to a close. We dig into the meaning of the 144000 here to discern what might come next. 
Notes for the 144000 

We've talked a lot about a pre-wrath rapture. We hope and pray for it. We remain vigilant and steadfast in our faith, pray, read our scriptures and watch the signs and the seasons. We know we are near yet as it was in the days of Noah... There is a sobering reality to consider. The Raptured are a precious minority. Make sure you're bringing someone along with you... at least you can do that.
 
Notes for The Rapture Ready - A Sobering Reality

Revelation Series
Let's look at Revelation 13 through the lens of the world stage as it is today. Considering:
1. The church of believers is raptured
2. The world is in chaos (We've gone through the 1st four trumpets). The Beast and Satan arise at the 5th trumpet. 
3. The world is looking for a savior! They missed the real one. 
4. There is a remnant of believers (Tribulation Saints).
5. The jews are in hiding
6. The 144000 and the 2 witnesses are offering testimony 
You can only imagine what that world looks like. That is what this podcast is about.
 
Notes to Revelation 13 - the Rise of the Beast

AI, Robotic, Nanotech, Biotech, and quantum computing... what do you get when you combine all of these converging technologies without a moral, ethical constant? 
Notes - Ethical Relativism - Converging Technologies