GODS
The Old Testament prophets denied the reality of pagan gods (cf. Jer. 2:28), as did the New Testament writers (1 Cor. 8:4). Nevertheless, the Lord's people were frequently tempted to worship false gods, e.g., Baal, Molech, etc. (cf. Ezek. 16).
However, the law of Moses explicitly forbade such (Ex. 20:3-6). Because of the sin of idolatry, the kingdom of Israel was taken into Assyrian captivity (722-21 B.C.), and the kingdom of Judah was carried into Babylon, beginning in 606 B.C. -- for seventy years.
When they returned from Babylon, the Hebrew people never worshipped idols again, even though they were afflicted with numerous other lapses in fidelity.
The Scriptures warn that any object can be elevated to the status of a god when one's service to Jehovah is subordinated to interests deemed more important (cf. Col. 3:5; Mt. 6:33).
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Part one of a two-part series examining the ancient city of Babylon and its role in Bible prophecy
When a Pagan King Challenged JehovahSennacherib sent a great army to Jerusalem. Through his military officials, he made a series of threats, the design of which was to bully the Hebrew king.
Elijah, Prophet of ConfrontationElijah was one of the great prophets of Old Testament history. Like all of us, he was a man of mixed qualities. Overall, he contributed significantly to the unfolding of Heaven’s plan of redemption.
A Survey of the Major ProphetsThe Major Prophets represent the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
What Happened to the Ten “Lost” Tribes?The Northern Kingdom of ancient Israel is frequently referred to as “the ten lost tribes.” But were they ever lost? They were not—some cultic theories to the contrary notwithstanding.
