DAVID PROCLAIMS Solomon his successor and announces the construction of the Temple. Interestingly, the account of Solomon's anointing in 1 Chronicles skips over the rebellion of his half-brother, Adonijah (spoiler!).

We also discuss the final psalms of David in our study, which make clear that God has known us since the beginning of time, and the first of the psalms of Solomon we'll study, a wonderful reminder that our efforts in life are in vain unless the Lord is in it.

Click here for the complete archive of our New Testament Bible studies to date, and click here for the Old Testament studies to date.

THE EARLY church grows by leaps and bounds in the days after Pentecost. But things aren't perfect because (surprise!) the apostles were human, too.

We discuss the dispute between Greek and Jewish believers over the care of widows and the deception of Ananias and Sapphire. We also cover the sort-of conversion of Simon Magus, the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, and the stoning of Stephen — our introduction to Saul of Tarsus, who would arguably become the greatest of all the apostles.

Here is the link Derek promised to the article at Lion and Lamb Ministries on the Ethiopian tradition about the Ark of the Covenant.

Click here for the complete archive of our New Testament Bible studies to date, and click here for the Old Testament studies to date.

AS DAVID approached the end of his life, he focused his efforts on handing power to Solomon and preparing things for the Temple. Today we read several Psalms from this time in David's life and the details of how the priests and musicians were organized — a timely topic, since there are groups in Israel making similar preparations today for the Third Temple.

WE CONCLUDE our study of the gospels this week with the accounts of the Resurrection. We discuss the gospel accounts of the encounter at the empty tomb and why the apparent contradictions are not contradictions at all, the significance of the first witnesses to the risen Christ being women, and Peter's sermon on Pentecost, the first post-Resurrection sermon in the history of Christianity.

You can find the videos of Derek's presentation at Morningside Church, "The Great Inception: Satan's PSYOPs from Eden to Armageddon", at www.ptlnetwork.com/the-prophets-speak/

THIS WEEK is another great example of why we're doing our Bible study in chronological order. The accounts of David's census and the resulting punishment by Yahweh make more sense when the versions in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles are compared side by side. The chronicler records that the idea to conduct the census, presumably not in accordance with the Law (see Exodus 30:11-16), was Satan's (or, more properly, the satan's).

Also: David begins to assemble materials to build the Temple on the spot where the Angel of Yahweh (i.e., Jesus) stayed his hand.

DAVID NEARS the end of his life as our chronological study of the Old Testament continues. We read a number of psalms of repentance and thanksgiving, and recount the list of David's mighty men of valor — and speculate on one of those odd bits of scripture referring to the "ariels" (rendered "lionlike men" in the KJV) of Moab slain by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada (2 Samuel 23:20).

TODAY WE recount the final hours of Jesus' life on Earth. We discuss the weakness of Pilate, the spiritual forces behind the priests and scribes, and the supernatural effects of the moment that Jesus gave up his spirit.

Click here for the complete archive of our New Testament Bible studies to date, and click here for the Old Testament studies to date.

JESUS LEAVES his disciples with some final teachings before the Crucifixion. We discuss the accounts of the Last Supper, his declaration that no one comes to the Father except through him, and Jesus' clear claim of divinity before the Sanhedrin.

We also touch on the timing of Jesus' appearance on Earth at the height of the power of the Roman Empire. It is no coincidence that he arrived at the earliest possible moment in history when a message could be taken to all points on the globe.

THE REBELLION of Absalom has been quashed but a new one rises up in its place: As David returns to Jerusalem accompanied by members of his tribe, the Judahites, the northern tribes arrive along the way and confront the men of Judah. This leads to the short-lived rebellion of Sheba the son of Bichri, which highlights the ongoing tension between Judah and the northern tribes and foreshadows the eventual division of the kingdom in the days of Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

Click here for the complete archive of our New Testament Bible studies to date, and click here for the Old Testament studies to date.

MATTHEW 24 and 25 are among the most important chapters in the New Testament. Jesus spells out the future days of vengeance on Israel, the days of Tribulation, and the return of the Messiah to reign on Earth.

We discuss these chapters and why their intended audience was the Jews (although some scholars disagree, arguing that Matthew 24 and 25 apply to the Church and not to the Jewish people). We consider the parables of the Ten Virgins and the Talents in light of their application to the Jews alone, and the judgment of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25 being a judgment of Gentiles during the Tribulation, with salvation for those who showed kindness to "the least of these my brothers" — the Jews.

This contradicts a new teaching that incorrectly interprets Matthew 25:31-46 as a judgment of nations, rather than people — the lesson being that believers must ensure that they're living in a "sheep nation" and not a "goat nation" (presumably by taking control and forcing people to behave) to avoid being sent "into eternal punishment"!