Research Articles: All posts by Gordon Franz MA

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The Arch of Titus and the Olive Tree of Romans 11 1/18/2016 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Arch of Titus commemorated the triumphal procession by the Roman army after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and also memorialized the apotheosis (deification) of Titus; but what of the olive trees?

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Ancient Harbors of the Sea of Galilee 9/25/2014 - by Gordon Franz MA

Jesus spent much time on and around the Sea of Galilee with His fishermen-disciples. These disciples, who gave up all to follow Him (Lk 5:11), were good sailors. They knew the lake and its harbors well. The Gospels often refer to their maritime activities and the harbors they used. Now, for the first time in recent history, information on the harbors used by Jesus and His disciples has come to light. Sixteen harbors and anchorages have been identified and surveyed by the late Mendel Nun, a fisherman from Kibbutz Ein Gev (Nun 1989a). I am deeply indebted to him for sharing his wealth of knowledge concerning the lake and its history.

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"How Beautiful are the Feet" on the Via Egnatia 2/19/2014 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Apostle Paul quoted Isaiah 52:7 in the tenth chapter of his epistle to the Romans. He wrote: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’” (10:14-15, NKJV). In Isaiah’s day, as well as Paul’s day, the most common form of transportation was walking and Isaiah said the feet that carried the gospel of peace were beautiful!

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Luke The Physician: with "Medicine for the Souls" 1/23/2014 - by Gordon Franz MA

Eusebius (AD 260-340), considered to be the Father of Early Church History, described Luke the Physician in these terms: “Luke, who was by race an Antiochian and a physician by profession, was long a companion of Paul, and had careful conversation with the other Apostles, and in two books left us examples of the medicine for the souls which he had gained from them” (Eccl. Hist. 3.4.6; LCL 1:197).

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Where is Mount Sinai in Arabia (Galatians 4:25)? 12/19/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

Proponents of the "Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia" thesis continue to appeal to Galatians 4:25 as a supporting argument for their theory. Gordon Franz shows how the first century reader would have understood Paul's geographic reference.

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THEY’RE BAAAAACK!: The American Atheists' Christmas Billboard 2013 12/5/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

During the Christmas season of 2010 there was a billboard in New Jersey on one of the approaches to the Lincoln Tunnel to New York City. It had three wise men riding their camels in the starlit night toward an open-sided shelter with a gabled thatched roof next to a couple of palm trees; a donkey was tied to the stall, a bright star overhead, and Mary and Joseph watching over the new-born Baby Jesus. Then I saw the words: “You KNOW it’s a Myth. This Season, Celebrate REASON!” It was signed by the American Atheists and said they were “Reasonable since 1963.” Well, they’re baaaack! This Christmas season the same signs have been spotted in Sacramento, California.

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Titus: Blessed Are The Peacemakers (And Administrators) 11/4/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

As the Lord Jesus sat on a hillside over looking the Sea of Galilee, He instructed His disciples with some of the most profound words ever uttered by human beings (Matt. 5:1-7:29). He began His discourse by saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs in the Kingdom of Heaven” (5:3). He went on to say, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” (5:9).

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Report on the “International and Judi Mountain Symposium” – Sirnak, Turkey 10/14/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

The “International Noah and Judi Mountain” symposium was held in Sirnak, Turkey, under the auspices of Sirnak University. One of the purposes of this conference was to set forth the case for Cudi Dagh, the mountain just to the south of Sirnak, as the landing place of Noah’s Ark in South East Turkey. This mountain is not to be confused with the (late) traditional Mount Ararat, called Agri Dagh, in northeastern Turkey.

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The Household of Stephanas: Firstfruits of Achaia 8/29/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

Sometimes I will see this little ditty on the marquee of a church: “The family that prays together - stays together.” There is a lot of truth to that statement. I suspect that it was true of the household of Stephanas. Not only did they pray together, but they also poured their lives into serving the church at Corinth together.

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Demas: Lover of This Present World 8/15/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

Our society tends to blame adverse behavior on our environment, or on circumstances and events around us, but we seldom, if ever, take personal responsibility for our own actions. One of the most haunting passages of Scripture in Paul’s epistles, and one that probably caused him to weep over as he wrote, is found in II Tim. 4:10: “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica.”

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Apollos: Eloquent and Mighty In the Scriptures 7/11/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

Dr. Luke described the itinerant preacher Apollos as an “eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24). It is a rare combination to find a preacher who is both eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures. Usually a preacher is one or the other, or neither! Several examples of ones who are both are Charles Spurgeon, Charles Stanley and Chuck Swindoll. I guess if your name is Charlie you have a leg up on the competition!

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"He Began to Send Them Out Two by Two..." 6/26/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

Several reasons for a high attrition rate among missionaries are discouragement and loneliness on the mission field. An individual or couple may go out for a few years and when they return home for furlough, decide not to go back to the field again for these reasons. One wonders if following a Biblical pattern of mission might avoid some of these problems on the field. This paper will examine one aspect of Jesus’ instruction for mission. It is: He sent them out two-by-two in order to preach the gospel.

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Epaphroditus: A Gambling Veteran 6/17/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers to imitate (follow) him as he followed the Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor. 11:1). Paul, in his epistle to the church at Philippi, set forth several examples of believers who had the mind of Christ – the lowliness of mind, and esteemed others better then themselves (Phil. 2:3, 5). Paul intended for the Christians at Philippi to imitate these examples: one of whom was one of their own - Epaphroditus.

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Aquila and Priscilla: A Godly Marriage for Ministry 6/12/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

When the apostle Paul penned the epistle to the Ephesians in AD 62, Aquila and Priscilla were back in Rome after living and serving the church in Ephesus for several years. I am sure; however, they were not forgotten by the saints there. Perhaps the Apostle Paul had Aquila and Priscilla in mind as an example of a Spirit-filled husband and wife when he penned Ephesians 5:18-33.

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Thermopylae and the Book of Esther 4/24/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Battle of Thermopylae is one of the most heroic battles in the annals of military history. Three hundred Spartan soldiers, lead by their king Leonidas, engaged in a mission of “suicidal self-sacrifice” by holding off the mighty Persian army for three days at the pass at Thermopylae which was no more than 20 yards wide. This battle has been made into a Hollywood movie entitled, simply, “300” (2006).

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Mutiny on the HMS Corinth: Under-Rowers for Captain Jesus 4/12/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

On April 28, 1789, eighteen sailors from the crew of the HMS Bounty, led by Acting Lieutenant Fletcher Christian, mutinied against Lieutenant William Bligh because he was allegedly cruel to them, but more than likely the mutineers were smitten by the beauty of the women on the islands of Tahiti and Pitcairn.

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Refuting Contemporary Attacks on the Resurrection: Part Three with Gordon Franz 3/25/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

Part Three of Gordon Franz's discussion refuting many of the popular and contemporary attacks on the Resurrection of Jesus.

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Refuting Contemporary Attacks on the Resurrection: Part Two with Gordon Franz 3/21/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

Part Two of Gordon Franz's discussion refuting many of the popular and contemporary attacks on the Resurrection of Jesus.

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Refuting Contemporary Attacks on the Resurrection: Part One with Gordon Franz 3/19/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

Part One of Gordon Franz's discussion refuting many of the popular and contemporary attacks on the Resurrection of Jesus.

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Cornuke's Faulty Computer Model of Paul's Shipwreck on Malta: An Exercise in Digital Guesswork 2/21/2013 - by Gordon Franz MA

This article is dedicated to my Maltese and American friends searching for the Apostle Paul’s shipwreck on Malta. St. Paul’s Day – February 10, 2013

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Was An Archaeological Forgery Mistakenly Portrayed As Authentic? 9/26/2012 - by Gordon Franz MA

During the summer of 2007, Bob Cornuke was a keynote speaker at Promise Keepers events. In one of his presentation he announced the discovery of a stone object that had an inscription that he claimed was translated “Yahweh,” the name of the God of the Israelites.

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Text and Tell: The Excavations at Bethsaida 9/14/2012 - by Gordon Franz MA

This article outlines the debate over the location of Bethsaida.

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Benedict's Anchor: Was It From the Shipwreck of the Apostle Paul on Malta? 9/13/2012 - by Gordon Franz MA

On Saturday, April 17, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI visited the island of Malta in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. On his stop at the Church of St. Paul’s Grotto in the city of Rabat, he was shown an inscribed lead Roman anchor stock that had been discovered five years earlier off the coast of Malta.

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Why the Shipwreck of Paul Was Not on the Munxar Reef on Malta 8/7/2012 - by Gordon Franz MA

Reasons Why the Apostle Paul and Dr. Luke Were Not Shipwrecked on the Munxar Reef off Malta...

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Going for the Gold: The Apostle Paul and the Isthmian Games 7/16/2012 - by Gordon Franz MA

A sport shoe company ran an advertisement during the 1996 Olympics, with the line, “You do not win the silver medal, you lose the gold!” That line caught the essence of athletic competition. The athlete enters the competition with the goal of winning the event, not losing it.

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Not So Fast!: "Brother of Jesus" Might Be Authentic, But Not "James, The Son of Joseph" 6/28/2012 - by Gordon Franz MA

After a trial of more than five years with 138 witnesses, more than 400 exhibits and a trial transcript of 12,000 pages, Judge Aharon Farkash of the Jerusalem District Court cleared the defendants of all forgery charges in the case of the James Ossuary. Still, the trial details leave us with concerns about the total authenticity of this artifact. ABR Staff member Gordon Franz interviewed one of the trial witnesses and conservator, Orna Ohen, in 2008.

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Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times 5/17/2012 - by Gordon Franz MA

On display at the Franklin Institute from May 12 to October 14, 2012. ABR Staff Archaeologist Gordon Franz provides commentary and a free study guide from a Christian perspective.

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The Temple of Caesar Augustus at Caesarea Philippi 4/17/2012 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Lord Jesus was in the region of Caesarea Philippi when He asked His disciples: “Who do men say that I am?” What prompted Him to ask this question? I believe the geography and archaeology of the area gives us a clue. Jesus and His disciples walked the Roman road from Bethsaida toward Caesarea Philippi when they came across a beautiful temple built to honor Caesar Augustus, a mere mortal man who was deified by the Roman Senate upon his death, but a man who was venerated as a deity in life in the Eastern Roman Empire.

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The Battle of Philippi: The Battle that Changed the Course of Western Civilization 10/28/2011 - by Gordon Franz MA

There are few events in world history that are “game changers,” that change the course of human history and civilization. December 7, 1941 stands out because it was a “day that will live in infamy.” That was the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor which led the United States into World War II.

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Bogus Giant Human Skeletons From Greece 10/3/2011 - by Gordon Franz MA

Several friends have sent me the eight pictures and map that have been circulating on the Internet, especially among Christians, of three or four giant human skeletons that were allegedly found in an archaeological excavation a few kilometers to the east of Mycenae in the Peloponnese of Greece.

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"The Lost Shipwreck of Paul": A Critique of the Video 9/6/2011 - by Gordon Franz MA

Robert Cornuke, a retired police officer and now president of the BASE Institute, has recently released a video (August 2011) about his adventures on the island of Malta. In the video he located old divers and spear fisherman on the island who claimed they found four lead anchor stocks off the Munxar Reef of St. Thomas Bay in 90 feet of water during the 1960’s and 70’s.

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Sifting Dirt, Filling Sandbags and Shaul Junior: Reflections on the 2011 Season at Tel Zayit, Israel 8/9/2011 - by Gordon Franz MA

Who would have thought that a small Judean city on the western fringes of the Kingdom of Israel, facing Philistia, might provide a partial answer to the question posed in the December 2010 issue of National Geographic: “Was the Kingdom of David and Solomon a glorious empire – or just a little cow town?” (Draper 2010)?

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Psalm 63: Longing to Worship the LORD While in the Wilderness 6/10/2011 - by Gordon Franz MA

Let’s be honest, we do not live in a perfect world, nor is our homeland Paradise. There is a Millennial Kingdom coming when King Jesus will rule from Jerusalem with justice and righteousness, but that day is still in the future. We live in the nasty, here and now where Murphy’s Law is the norm. “If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong!” This world we live in is far from perfect. It is a world where injustice is the norm and unrighteousness prevails.

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More on Simcha Jacobovici and the Nails from Caiaphas' Tomb 4/21/2011 - by Gordon Franz MA

On Tuesday, April 12, 2011, filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici held a news conference in Jerusalem. In it, he claimed that two nails, excavated more than 20 years ago, were the ones hammered into the hands of Jesus at His crucifixion. The nails, which had “disappeared” soon after the excavations, were recently rediscovered in the labs of Tel Aviv University and are now in his possession. In an interview with Bloomberg News (April 12, 2011), he claimed: “Do I know 100 percent that these nails were used to crucify Jesus? No, I think we have a very compelling case to say: these are them.”

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Simcha Jacobovici and the Nails From Caiaphas' Tomb 4/14/2011 - by Gordon Franz MA

On Tuesday, April 12, 2011, a news conference was held in Jerusalem by filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici. In it, he claimed that two nails that were excavated more than 20 years ago were hammered into the hands of Jesus at His crucifixion. They had “disappeared” soon after the excavations but were recently rediscovered in the labs of Tel Aviv University and are now in his possession. In an interview with Bloomberg News (April 12, 2011), he claimed: “Do I know 100 percent that these nails were used to crucify Jesus? No, I think we have a very compelling case to say: these are them.”

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Would the Apostle Paul Have Burned A Copy of the Koran? 4/12/2011 - by Gordon Franz MA

Recently, a pastor in Florida burned a copy of the Koran (also spelled Quran). His stated reason was “to make an awareness of the radical element of Islam.” Unfortunately his actions led to tragic consequences. Riots ensued in Afghanistan because of what some termed “blasphemy against the Koran” and this violence led to deadly results.

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The Patriarch Job, Chalcolithic Ossuary Jars, and the Resurrection of the Body 3/23/2011 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Lord, in His permissive will, allowed Satan to afflict “a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and the man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1, all Scripture quotes from the New King James Bible).

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The Demoniacs of Gadara 3/7/2011 - by Gordon Franz MA

The account in the Synoptic gospels of the demoniacs of Gadara is a pivotal event in the Galilean ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. This event is recorded in all three Synoptic gospels (Matt. 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39). This paper will examine several “problems” relating to this account and then an attempt will be made to place it in proper perspective in relation to the whole of the Lord Jesus’ ministry.

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Why Were The Sailors Afraid Of The Syrtis Sands (Acts 27:17)? 1/5/2011 - by Gordon Franz MA

On the Apostle Paul’s ill-fated journey to Rome, the ship he traveled on was blown off course soon after leaving the Cretan anchorage of Fair Haven (Acts 27:8-12). Dr. Luke, who accompanied the Apostle Paul on this voyage, records the details of the storm that hit during their voyage.

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The Christmas Myth as Displayed by the American Atheists 12/21/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

At the beginning of this Christmas season (2010), I was going into New York City to do some research at the New York Public Library. As usual, I took public transportation into the city (it’s less stressful than driving and you don’t have to worry about parking). As we were approaching the Palisades in the bus lane to the Lincoln Tunnel, I saw out the left-hand side of the bus a billboard that caught my attention. It had what looked like a scene from a Christmas card. I thought to myself: “That’s nice; somebody is wishing us a joyous Christmas.” As the bus got closer, I saw the three wise men riding their camels in the starlit night toward an open-sided shelter with a gabled thatched roof next to a couple of palm trees; a donkey was tied to the stall, a bright star overhead, and Mary and Joseph watching over the new-born Baby Jesus. Then I saw the words: “You KNOW it’s a Myth. This Season, Celebrate REASON!” It was signed by the American Atheists and said they were “Reasonable since 1963.” Their web address was also given.

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Babylon Revisited: Isaiah 21 – Future or Fulfillment? 10/6/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

Students of Bible prophecy have generally overlooked an important tool for understanding this chapter; mainly, the archaeologist’s spade. Archaeology has a direct bearing on this passage from two different angles. First, there are ancient inscriptions that give first hand accounts, or historical reflections, of the fall of Babylon in 689 BC. Second, there is confirmation of this destruction by the German excavation at the beginning of the 20th century. With this, let us turn our attention to Isaiah 21.

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Remember, Archaeology is NOT a Treasure Hunt 9/17/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

The headline of the Science Section of the New York Times for Tuesday, September 28, 2004, read, “Solving a Riddle Written in Silver.” I recognized the picture underneath the headline right away. It was a portion of a silver amulet that was one of two discovered in Jerusalem in 1979. The article described the scholarly debate concerning the date assigned to the amulets by the excavator and his team in the latest issue of the Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. They claim that these two objects contain the two oldest Biblical texts ever discovered to date. Unfortunately the BASOR is very technical. It discusses the style of the letters and how this is used to date the amulets. This is important to answer the critics who have suggested the amulets were not as old as the excavator claimed they were. The present article will not deal with the technical aspects of the debate, as important as they are, but rather I would like to take you behind the scenes and share some of the human interest stories relating to the discovery, unrolling, announcement and publication of these two amulets...

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“LB Palace, Here We Come!”: Reflections on the 2010 Season at Hazor 8/12/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

This summer was the 21th season of the Hazor archaeological excavation. It was conducted from June 20 to July 30, 2010, under the able leadership of the co-directors: Professor Amnon Ben-Tor and Dr. Sharon Zuckerman. Most of our efforts for this season were concentrated in Area M on the northern slopes of the Upper City overlooking the Lower City. The co-area supervisors in charge of this area were Sharon Zuckerman and Shlomit Becher. This was my eighth season excavating at Hazor and I can honestly say it was the most pleasant, productive, and interesting season I have experienced at Hazor...

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Signed, Sealed and Delivered: An Archaeological Exposition of Jeremiah 32:1-15 7/6/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

In this essay we will examine the command that God gave to Jeremiah to redeem a field from his cousin, Hanamel of Anathoth. Particular attention will be given to the archaeological background to this chapter and how it illustrates the Biblical text. Jeremiah’s obedience to God’s command, in spite of a hopeless situation, was a vivid lesson to the people of Judah that God would return His people from the Babylonian captivity...

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A Tribute to David Livingston 4/19/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

On May 26, 2005, ABR held its annual banquet at Calvary Church, Lancaster, PA. This night had a special focus honoring the life and ministry of Dr. Livingston, not only for his role in founding ABR, but on his influence in the lives of others. The following article was a message that night presented by Gordon Franz, giving insight into the man who began this ministry...

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Earthquakes on the Increase? Or Warning of Judgment to come? 4/16/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

Earthquakes play a role in Bible prophecy. They are mentioned in the Book of Revelation (6:12-17; 8:5; 11:13,19; 16:16-21) as well as the books of Isaiah (2:19,21; 5:25; 24:19), Ezekiel (38:19,20), Joel (2:10; 3:16) and Zechariah (14:4,5). A number of prophecy teachers point to what they assume to be an increase in the number of earthquakes and associate these quakes with the words of Jesus to show we are in, or near, the last days (cf. Matt. 24:7)...

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“Meat Offered to Idols” in Pergamum and Thyatira 4/6/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

This article deals with understanding the phrase “meat offered to idols” in two of the letters that the Lord Jesus addressed to the seven churches. Dr. Charles A. Kennedy has set forth, in my opinion, the best explanation for the phrase “meat offered to idols.” The phrase should be understood as a memorial meal for the dead that sometimes degenerates into an immoral affair. If this understanding is correct, the interpretation will help clarify the message of the letters to the churches at Pergamum and Thyatira...

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“Searching for Paul’s Shipwreck on Malta”: A Critique of the 700 Club’s February 26, 2010 Program 3/2/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

On Friday morning, February 26, 2010, on CBN’s 700 Club program, Chuck Holton submitted a report about a man who believes he found an “amazing Biblical discovery” on Malta. This nine-minute video segment featured Robert Cornuke presenting his theory about the location of the Apostle Paul’s shipwreck on the island of Malta...

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The King and I: Opening The Third Seal, Part 3 2/11/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

This is the third and final article in a series on the background to Revelation 1:9. This article examines some modern prophetic interpretations of events related to opening the Third Seal. Drawing on ancient and modern agricultural practices in the region, the author offers some fresh insights into the phrase “do not harm the oil and the wine.”

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The Resurrection of the Jerusalem Saints at the Feast of the Firstfruits 2/1/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

I would like to examine Matthew 27:51-54 in light of what we know of Jewish burial practices in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period, and then ask two questions, “What happened to these resurrected saints?” “What is the prophetic significance of the veil of the Temple being torn in two from top to bottom and the saints being resurrected?”

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The King and I: Exiled To Patmos, Part 2 1/28/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

Second in a series on the Book of Revelation, this article examines the physical and historical evidence for the Aegean island of Patmos. The author draws from both ancient sources and his own exploration of the island to provide a greater understanding of the Book of Revelation.

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The King and I: The Apostle John and Emperor Domitian, Part 1 1/18/2010 - by Gordon Franz MA

Emperor Domitian, the self-proclaimed “Lord and God” and ruthless dictator, reigned from AD 81 to 96. He was the son of Emperor Vespasian and the brother of Titus, the conquerors of Jerusalem in AD 70. Late in life, Domitian become very superstitious. In fact, on the day before he was murdered...

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The Ultimate Sign: Isaiah 7 12/17/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

In Isaiah chapter 7, God demonstrates His faithfulness to a promise that He made with King David concerning the Davidic dynasty by giving the ultimate sign to the House of David. The sign would be a virgin born Son named Immanuel, God with us. As we examine this passage carefully, we will see from the historical context that Matthew is not taking verse 14 out of context in order to “proof-text” the virgin birth of Jesus. Moreover, the context is clearly pointing to the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus as the fulfillment of this passage in Isaiah 7. The Lord Jesus Christ is the sinless Immanue and God manifest in human flesh.

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The Slaughter of the Innocents: Historical Fact or Legendary Fiction? 12/8/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

In the December 2008 issue of National Geographic there was a well illustrated article on the recent excavations at the Herodian. This was the final burial place of Herod the Great, located 5 ½ kilometers southeast of Bethlehem as the angels fly. In the article, the author made this bold statement, reflecting current historical and theological understanding: “Herod is best known for slaughtering every male infant in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill Jesus. He is almost certainly innocent of this crime” (Mueller 2008:42). Was Herod the Great really innocent of this crime, or did this criminal act actually happen?

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Jesus Celebrates Hanukkah! 11/17/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that commemorates the purification and rededication of the Temple by Judas Maccabeus on Kislev 25, 165 BC (usually in December). Three years prior, Antiochus IV, the Seleucid (Syrian) king, defiled the Temple by erecting an idol to Baal Shamen (the Canaanite counterpart for the Greek god Zeus), sacrificing a pig on the altar in the Temple and proclaiming himself to be a god...

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"Yahweh Inscription" Discovered at "Mount Sinai"! 10/11/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

Robert Cornuke, the founder of the BASE Institute claims to have seen, and has photographs of, an ancient stone artifact from Mount Sinai that is inscribed with the name of the LORD, “Yahweh,” on it!

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Reflections on the 2009 Season at Hazor 8/27/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

This year the Hazor archaeological excavation was conducted from June 21-July 31, 2009 under the able leadership of the co-directors: Professor Amnon Ben-Tor and Dr. Sharon Zuckerman. Most of our efforts for this season were concentrated in Area M on the northern slopes of the Upper City overlooking the Lower City. In charge of this area were the co-area supervisors: Sharon Zuckerman and Shlomit Becher...

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Where are the Israelite Burials From the Wilderness Wanderings? 6/18/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

Some have raised the objection that Mount Sinai could not be in the Sinai Peninsula because millions of Israelites died during the Wilderness Wanderings and no graves of any of these Israelites have been discovered in the Sinai Peninsula from this period. Recently we received such an inquiry...

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Nahum, Nineveh and Those Nasty Assyrians 5/28/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

The prophet Nahum predicts the fall of Nineveh in the mid-7th century BC, several decades before the city actually fell in 612 BC. When he prophesied, the Neo-Assyria Empire was at the height of its power...

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The Geography and Military Strategy of King Uzziah: An Expansionist Policy That Led to His Destruction 4/30/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

The consequence of King Uzziah’s military strategy associated with his foreign policy is summarized by a proverb of wise King Solomon. He stated: “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Let us examine the geography of King Uzziah’s military expansionist policies and show how these policies led to a proud heart and eventually to his downfall...

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The Imperial Cult and the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus 3/23/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

Paul writes that the Lord Jesus was “born of the Seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” It was the covenant promise of God to David and the bodily resurrection that set Him apart from all the Roman emperors...

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Let the Dead Bury Their Own Dead 3/20/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

There are two incidents recorded in the Gospels when a disciple requested a “leave of absence” in order to “bury” his father (Matt. 8:21-22; Luke 9:59-60). Although the requests appear reasonable, Jesus gave a seemingly harsh reply in each case: “Follow Me, let the dead bury their own dead.”...

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Gods, Gold And The Glory Of Philippi 2/13/2009 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Apostle Paul’s visit to Macedonia marked the first time he set foot on European soil. However, this was not the first time the gospel was proclaimed in Europe...

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A Review of: "The Search for Noah's Ark" 12/31/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

Adventurer Robert Cornuke has produced a new video which claims that remnants of Noah’s Ark have been found in the Elburz Mountains about 54 miles from Tehran, the capital of Iran...

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The Angelic Proclamation to the Shepherds 12/23/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

I would like to draw back the curtains on the Drama of World Redemption and take a peek at what was going on behind the scenes...

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Who Is Immanuel? 12/17/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

The Incarnation is at the heart of the Christmas message. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Tm 3:16). The only way the Second Person of the triune God could take on human flesh without being tainted by Adam’s sin was to be conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin...

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Mary's Magnificat: The Mercy of God 12/11/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

I would like to tell you a story that is true. I am not making it up...

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Oh Little Town of Bethlehem 12/7/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

During the Christmas season, we are inundated with images of Bethlehem from Christmas cards or Sunday School material that depicts somebody's imagination of what Bethlehem looked like 2,000 years ago. Some Christmas cards...

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Is Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia? 6/10/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

This article will examine four aspects of the question regarding whether or not Mt. Sinai is located in Saudi Arabia. First, the credibility of the claims will be questioned. Second, the false assumptions by the proponents of Jebel al-Lawz will be disputed. Third, the Biblical evidence will be discussed. Fourth, the archaeological evidence will be examined...

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BLOODLINE: Serious Documentary or Hollywood Hoax? 5/26/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

Incontrovertible proof to refute Christianity?

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The Parable of the Two Builders 2/6/2008 - by Gordon Franz MA

When Jesus preached a sermon, told a parable, or gave a discourse, He always used object lessons that were familiar to His hearers in order to illustrate His point...

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Greatest Fish Stories Ever Told 12/5/2007 - by Gordon Franz MA

As the calm waters reflected the slowly rising sun over the Sea of Galilee, a lonely figure walked from Capernaum along a path near the rocky shore of the lake. On this spring day, He noticed the flowers...

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Divine Healer: Jesus vs. Eshmun 11/28/2007 - by Gordon Franz MA

This article addresses itself to the background of the third miracle or sign, the incident which took place at Bethesda (John 5). When did the event take place? Where did it take place? How do the archaeological discoveries shed light on this passage? And what are the practical and theological implications of this event?

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Mount Sinai is NOT Jebel al-Lawz in Saudi Arabia 10/3/2007 - by Gordon Franz MA

This paper examines three aspects of the identification of Mt. Sinai in Saudi Arabia. First, the paper questions the credibility of the claims. Second, the paper disputes the false assumptions by the proponents of Jebel al-Lawz. Third, the paper examines the archaeological evidence...

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Tabloid Archaeology 9/26/2007 - by Gordon Franz MA

One day a friend sent me an invitation to a church meeting and asked me if I knew anything about the subject. On the flyer was a picture of a human skeleton with crooked teeth and a rock embedded in his forehead. The title above the skull read: “They’ve Found Goliath’s Skull!” Needless to say, that caught my attention...

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The So-Called Jesus Family Tomb 'Rediscovered' in Jerusalem 3/17/2007 - by Gordon Franz MA

On Monday morning, February 26, 2007, I heard this opening statement by Matt Lauer on the NBC Today show: "Is this the tomb of Jesus? A shocking new claim that an ancient burial place may have housed the bones of Christ and a son. This morning a Today exclusive that could rock Christianity to its core."...

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Did the BASE Institute Discover Noah’s Ark in Iran? 2/16/2007 - by Gordon Franz MA

The recent reputed discovery of Noah’s Ark by the BASE Institute has gotten a great deal of airtime as well as publicity on the Internet. There are, however, some excellent reviews that critique the claim that Noah’s Ark landed in Iran...

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The Tyrian Shekel and the Temple of Jerusalem 11/1/2006 - by Gordon Franz MA

Every year, a Jewish man, 20 years old and older, paid a voluntary half shekel Temple tax to the Jerusalem Temple. This tax, instituted by Moses (Ex 30:11–16), was paid in either the Tyrian shekel...

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Nahum and Nineveh 9/6/2006 - by Gordon Franz MA

The prophet Nahum predicts the fall of Nineveh in the mid-7th century BC, several decades before the city actually fell in 612 BC. When he prophesied, the Neo-Assyria Empire was at the height of its power...

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Asher Shall Dip His Foot in Oil...Petroleum Oil, or Something Else? 5/24/2006 - by Gordon Franz MA

Today some Christian geologists and oilmen, encouraged by some prophecy teachers, are looking for greater treasures...oil...black gold, with the Bible as their "treasure map"...

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Does "The Lost Shipwreck of Paul" Hold Water? 12/19/2005 - by Gordon Franz MA

Mr. Cornuke’s investigations on the island of Malta led to the conclusion that the shipwreck occurred on the eastern end of the island of Malta, rather than the traditional site at St. Paul’s Bay on the northern side of the island...

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