God and His Prophets: A verse-by-verse study through the Bible’s major and minor prophets

Today, I'm just asking for prayer for the family of a friend of mine. Though my heart is heavy right now, I hope you all have a Happy Memorial Day :)

A conversation with Nate Vainio, host of the Something to Gnaw On podcast. He has graciously allowed me to share this interview with my listeners over here for the month of May, and this is part 3 of 3.

The Cross References Podcast with Luke Taylor: Episode 122

(And Part 57 of my Ezekiel series)

If you want to get in touch with me, send an email to [email protected]

A conversation with Nate Vainio, host of the Something to Gnaw On podcast. He has graciously allowed me to share this interview with my listeners over here for the month of May, and this is part 2 of 3. 

The Cross References Podcast with Luke Taylor: Episode 121

(And Part 56 of my Ezekiel series)

If you want to get in touch with me, send an email to [email protected]

A conversation with Nate Vainio, host of the Something to Gnaw On podcast. He has graciously allowed me to share this interview with my listeners over here for the month of May, and this is part 1 of 3. 

The Cross References Podcast with Luke Taylor: Episode 120

(And Part 55 of my Ezekiel series)

If you want to get in touch with me, send an email to [email protected]

Adolph Hitler hoped and prayed that he was this antichrist that the Bible spoke of. Hitler may have been a deranged maniac; he did at least know a thing or two about what the Bible said. And as he went through Europe swallowing up nation after nation, he was convinced more and more that he would be this man. 

 (it’s strange; he wanted to fulfill the scriptures that spoke of the antichrist’s power; I wonder how he thought he would then stop the scriptures that spoke of Jesus returning and casting the antichrist into hell. but like I said, Hitler was deranged.)

The book Hitler’s Cross by Ewrin Lutzer: Hitler offered himself as a messiah with the divine mission to save Germany. On one occasion, he displayed the whip he often carried to demonstrate that “in driving out the Jews I remind myself of Jesus in the temple.” He declared “Just like Christ, I have a duty to my own people.” He even boasted that as Christ’s birth had changed the calendar, so his victory over the Jews would be the beginning of a new age. “What Christ began,” he said, “I will complete.”

Well, Hitler didn’t get his wish. Not that he didn’t accomplish a lot of evil. 6 million Jews murdered. 1/3 of all the Jews in the world. I’ve spoken on this podcast before about why the devil wants all of the Jewish people dead. And the devil is going to keep trying, whether that means working through Hitler or working through the future antichrist. 

Now, the Antichrist isn’t going to win, either. He’ll be successful in killing 2/3 of the remaining Jews during the seven-year tribulation. But he won’t succeed. As he is conquesting the land of Israel during that time, he will be attacked by another nearby nation. A nation we’ve been studying quite a bit here lately on the podcast: Egypt. 

So on today’s episode, you’ll learn six things about the Antichrist, including hints about his nationality and his love life. You’ll also learn about God’s plan for Egypt in the end times.

There is actually a plan for Egypt during the Great Tribulation. And the plan involves opposing the Antichrist. Have you ever heard about this before? If not, you will today on the Cross References Podcast.

The Cross References Podcast with Luke Taylor: Episode 119

0:00 - Hitler Wanted to Be the Antichrist

2:45 - The Daniel 11 Context

5:40 - His Big Mouth

8:20 - His Nationality

11:00 - His Love Life

12:55 - His Religion

15:40 - His Enemies

27:50 - His Palace

31:45 - Closing Thoughts

If you want to get in touch with me, send an email to [email protected]

Death is not the end. 

A couple episodes ago, I took a little detour into Jude and analyzed this phrase “twice dead.” It was kind of a side-quest because I primarily use this podcast to dive into the book of Ezekiel. In that lesson, we focused on how the Second Death talked about in Revelation is not teaching the doctrine of annihilationism, or the idea that we cease to exist at the moment of death. The second death means eternity in hell, or the lake of fire, and you never stop existing.

I had no idea when I took that side-journey how well it would intertwine with what we’re discussing today in the book of Ezekiel, where the main idea of this chapter can be summed up as this: death is not the end. 

I didn’t plan it this way. Maybe God did. Maybe God has something he wants us to get from this chapter. And if so, it’s no accident that you’re listening today. 

The last episode was about the death of pharoah. Today’s episode will show you what happened to Pharaoh next. I’ll also share some thoughts on what chapters 25-32 as a whole in Ezekiel are communicating to us. And you will see more than ever that death is not the end.

This episode WILL end, though, and by the time you finish it, you’ll hear about when Pharaoh took a tour of hell and WHO he saw when he got there.

All of that today on the Cross References podcast.

The Cross References Podcast with Luke Taylor: Episode 118

0:00 - Introduction

3:30 - The Fate of Pharaoh

15:00 - Death is NOT the End

21:30 - Closing Thoughts

If you want to get in touch with me, send an email to [email protected]

We live in a world of absolute chaos. Where does it all come from? Well, you’ll find out today. 

Today’s episode will start into chapter 32 of Ezekiel, which will be God’s final word on Egypt and the Gentile Nations. Egypt is truly one of the most fascinating nations in the Bible; it plays a huge role in the creation of Israel as a nation, in some of Israel’s struggles throughout the Old Testament, and even factors into God’s plans for the future. 

And we’ll talk about that in the weeks ahead, but today, you’re going to learn about some of the Old Testament passages that speak of God fighting some kind of sea monster; levitathan, or the chaos dragon. 

Also, you’ll learn why the new heavens and the new earth in Revelation 21 are said to have no sea.

And if you listen to the end, you’ll gain a greater understanding of what may be going on in our world today- especially right here in America. All of that today on the Cross References podcast.

The Cross References Podcast with Luke Taylor: Episode 117

0:00 - Introduction

2:30 - The Death of Pharaoh

12:00 - God vs The Chaos Dragon

27:00 - Closing Thoughts

If you want to get in touch with me, send an email to [email protected]

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - The Poetic Language of Jude 12-13

3:40 - Blemishes at your love feasts

6:40 - Clouds without rain

8:00 - Autumn trees without fruit

9:55 - Foaming up their shame

12:50 - Wandering Stars

14:30 - Twice Dead

22:45 - A Second Death?

27:30 - Survivors Gather Here Monday

29:00 - Connections to Believers and the Cross

Lessons from Loki and Ezekiel 31. No one is too big to fall. 

Captain America: “There’s only one God, ma’am. And I’m pretty sure He doesn’t dress like that.”

The Cross References Podcast with Luke Taylor: Episode 115

0:00 - Lessons from Loki

5:15 - The Tree Motif in Scripture

7:45 - v1-9, My Life as a Tree

14:30 - v10-18, The Judgment of the Pharaonic Tree

26:00 - The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Description:

Introduction:

• In this episode of the Cross References Podcast, host Luke Taylor delves into the intriguing parallels between the prideful ambitions of Egyptian Pharaohs and the character journey of Loki from the Marvel cinematic universe.
• Luke opens with a captivating comparison, illustrating how both Pharaohs and Loki sought godlike status, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of Ezekiel 31.

Main Content:

• Luke draws attention to the motif of divine judgment and the consequences of human pride, using the character arc of Loki as a contemporary lens to examine ancient themes.
• Through insightful analysis, Luke highlights the imagery of the towering tree in Ezekiel 31, representing the greatness and eventual downfall of nations like Assyria or Egypt.
• The discussion navigates through key verses, unpacking the symbolic significance of the majestic tree and its ultimate fate, echoing the timeless message of humility and divine sovereignty.

Conclusion & Call to Action:

• As the episode draws to a close, Luke reflects on the enduring relevance of biblical narratives in contemporary contexts, emphasizing the importance of humility and reverence in the face of divine judgment.
• Luke teases the next episode, enticing listeners to explore further insights into biblical themes and narratives by subscribing to the podcast.
• Finally, Luke invites listeners to engage with the podcast community by sending feedback via email and leaving a 5-star review to support the show's growth and reach.

If you want to get in touch with me, send an email to [email protected]

One time I was studying through the book of Exodus and I had this thought: Did God love the Egyptians? 

It’s a question you’ve probably never really thought much about before. 

So, in Exodus, this is the story of the Egyptians who enslaved the Israelites and wouldn’t let them go. They were forced to work all day under grueling conditions in the desert, building whatever Pharaoh wanted for his cities. And for centuries, pharaoh after pharaoh wouldn’t let them leave. 

So, they’re clearly the bad guys in this story. Then God sends a deliverer named Moses out of the wilderness to come and set these people free, and the rest is history- and a really epic four-hour Charlton Heston movie from 1956. And it’s rated G even though it’s kinda scary for a G-rated movie. But you’ve got the water turning to blood and mass killing from a death angel and later drowning. And according to IMDB, there’s some canoodling between lovers. I’m not sure what that’s referring to. I’m not even sure what canoodling is, but it sure doesn’t sound G-rated to me. 

Then again, the Bible is not a G-rated book. Speaking of IMDB, let me look here at how it rates the agro-appropriateness of movies: violence and gore? Yes. Alcohol? Yes. Frightening and intense scenes? Yes. Profanity? That’s debatable but if you read the King James Version, you’re going to find a few words that I sure wasn’t allowed to say growing up. Oh, and sex and nudity? Well, if you read Song of Solomon, there’s definitely some canoodling going on. 

The Bible is a book of violence, destruction, depression, fear, wrath- and a God who loves all of humanity on every page. But it’s a little easy to lose sight of that fact as you read about the mass destruction that God visits upon people throughout His Word- including on the Egyptians in Exodus.

And this can cause us to question: even when God judges people, does He still love them?

Let’s go back to my original question: Did God love the Egyptians? 

I have a theory about this, and I’d like to share it today on the Cross References podcast.

The Cross References Podcast with Luke Taylor: Episode 114

0:00 - Why Jesus was Sometimes Harsh

7:20 - The 10 Plagues

28:00 - Did God Love the Egyptians?

Description:

In this captivating episode of the Cross References podcast, host Luke Taylor delves deep into the biblical narrative of Exodus, exploring the intriguing question: Did God love the Egyptians? Through a thought-provoking analysis of Exodus 7-12, Taylor uncovers profound insights into the complex relationship between divine judgment and love.

Discover the untold story behind the plagues of Egypt and their significance in exposing idolatry and leading to repentance. Taylor navigates through historical context, biblical parallels, and modern-day analogies to unravel the layers of divine love and justice.

Join us as we explore the theological depths of God's actions in the Old Testament and their relevance to contemporary faith. Gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of divine love and the transformative power of biblical narratives.

Tune in to the Cross References podcast for a compelling journey through scripture, where every small piece tells one big story connected to the cross and Christ.

Key Topics:

• Biblical narrative of Exodus 7-12
• Divine love and judgment in the Old Testament
• Significance of the plagues of Egypt in exposing idolatry
• Theological insights into God's actions and motives
• Modern-day reflections on faith and divine justice

Connect with Us:

• Subscribe to the Cross References podcast for more insightful episodes.

If you want to get in touch with me, send an email to [email protected]