This page contains the index to the ASK year 2017 Commentaries. Stories are listed in most recent first order. Click on a title to read the commentary.

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Miracles, Signs and Wonders - October 1, 2017

In this month’s article we read of historical events in the life of Elisha the Prophet (successor to Elijah), when God performed miracles through his acts as prophet. Elijah gets almost all the notice in the Scriptures, Elisha only gets one direct mention, as you read in this month’s article “Israel and Judah: 26. God’s Miracles Through Elijah the Prophet.” I recommend you read first the “October 2017 Newsletter” introducing the article.
 

Mass Participation Events - September 16, 2017

In a short span of time, the lives of millions of people were affected by widespread singular events in the United States. Not only were tens of millions influenced directly, but also tens of millions more participated indirectly and vicariously through television and internet in these mass participation events. One of those recent events was benign and caused no damage at all, but the other two were large-scale disasters.
 

God’s Change of Mind - September 1, 2017

Jesus said it was possible that all human life would be extinguished except for the sake of God's elect. Learn the deeper meaning of these passages in Matthew and Mark.
 

You As a Child of God - August 15, 2017

Why study Scripture — ever? There is a purpose, a reason, in doing so and God tells us that purpose. The apostle Paul tells us the reasons the written Word of God is useful at this time in history, and those reasons apply to us today as we approach the end of the age, The Scriptures inform us about learning to live and grow as a Child of God.
 

Tabernacle of Moloch - August 1, 2017

I received a question before I completed this month’s article “Israel and Judah: 25. Jehoshaphat and Other Kings.” For an introduction to the article, read the “August 2017 Newsletter.” Question: Stephen told the Chief Priests and Elders (would that have been the Sanhedrin?) about the Tabernacle of Moloch! Can you give me any information on Moloch or the “Tent/Tabernacle of Moloch”?
 

Death Is a Return - July 15, 2017

A while back I was reading a commentary by A.E. Knoch on Acts 2:27, the verse where Peter talks about Jesus’ resurrection: “Because you will not leave my soul in hell, neither will you suffer [allow] your Holy One to see corruption.” Knoch begins by writing, “death is a return.” I want to expand on his analysis.
 

Kingdom of God, Old Testament Sources - July 1, 2017

The phrase “Kingdom of God” occurs only in the New Testament in all four gospels, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, and Second Thessalonians. The synonymous phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” occurs 37 times, only in the Gospel of Mathew. This Commentary will show some of the Old Testament references that are the basis for the New Testament teaching of the Kingdom of God.
 

What I Do When I Write - June 16, 2017

When I write an article, a newsletter, a commentary like this one, or whenever I create a presentation from Dr. Ernest L. Martin’s works or my own, I do so using elements of style that I have chosen for a reason. They are useful and purposeful.
 

King David and King Ahab - June 1, 2017

A review of the reigns and lives of King David and King Ahab make an interesting contrast of opposites. King David ruled a united Kingdom of all 12 tribes of Israel. After the reign of David’s son Solomon, that kingdom broke in two. One hundred fifty years later, King Ahab reigned over 10 of those tribes in the north. In the south all the kings of Judah were descended from David, while no king of Israel was descended from David. This month’s article, “Israel and Judah: 24. Jehoshaphat and Ahab’s Death” tells of complex events and plots leading to Ahab’s death, plots involving supernatural intrigue by YHWH as well as human political intrigue.
 

Increasing Support of ASK Studies - May 16, 2017

ASK was founded in 1985 by Dr. Ernest L. Martin. His research of Scripture and history is the mainstay of ASK’s efforts to educate people about the Word of God. Over the years other teachers, researchers, and scholars have supported Dr. Martin’s research. More continue to do so.
 

Prayers for Those in Authority - May 1, 2017

When I quote 1 Timothy 2:1-4, I usually emphasize verse 4, but here I want to emphasize verse 2. We are to pray generally “for all men” because it is God’s will to save “all men,” and pray specifically “for all that are in authority” so a quiet, peaceable life can be lived with godliness. Learn why.
 

Universal Salvation and Loving Your Enemies - April 15, 2017

Here is another argument in favor of universal salvation from a biblical perspective. Search the internet for the following terms, in quotes: “God’s justice demands hell.” The search yields many articles (over 21 million) that state God’s justice, holiness, and righteousness demands an eternal punishment of hell. This is a fantasy created by theologians.
 

Fire from Heaven - April 1, 2017

The “April 1, 2017 Newsletter” introduces this month’s article “Israel and Judah: 23. King Ahab’s Decline.” The article begins after God sent fire down from heaven to settle a contest that Elijah had with 450 pagan prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel on the central Mediterra-nean coast of Palestine (1 Kings 18:20–46).
 

Universal Salvation and Free Will - March 15, 2017

I give you here a biblical argument to confront those who believe in an eternal hell or eternal annihilation for sinners. I am sure others have made this argument, but I did not look for anyone else’s information. To me they are obvious in Scripture.
 

Christ’s Birth and the Heavens - March 1, 2017

Dr. Martin’s 2001 interview with radio personality Jeff Rense also discussed the “Star of Beth¬lehem” and the timing of the birth of Christ. Read the “March 2017 Newsletter” to introduce the article. This Commentary gives additional perspective on the subject.
 

Our Desire to Be Slaves - February 15, 2017

We need to realize each of us is a slave, as our Lord said, “Jesus answered them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant [slave, bondservant] of sin’” (John 8:34). If you sin, you are a slave to sin. I set up Dr. Martin's article starting on page 2.
 

A Bible Background Example - February 1, 2017

This month’s article, “Israel and Judah: 22. Evil Kings of Israel” should be read after the “February 2017 Newsletter.” While you read the article, keep in mind that a great deal of background information is not mentioned, usually because (1) it is not relevant to the point of the narrative, and (2) it would take too much space to tell the full story.
 

Fake News, Good News - January 15, 2017

“Fake news” is a new and trending phrase in the English lexicon. You will not find a precise dictionary definition of the phrase yet, but a general description is that (1) fake news involves lies rather than truth, and (2) the lies claim to be fresh information or “news.” Fake news is not limited to political news stories on the internet. It is the ideal example of the commandment’s warning to the people of Israel, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16).
 

Fort Antonia, Josephus, a Contradiction - January 1, 2017

You will enjoy reading and listening to the article, “Gihon Temple Evidence: Jeff Rense Interview of Ernest Martin.” It is a dis-cussion about the true location of the Jewish Temples in Jerusalem. Now to the title of this article. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote about Fort Antonia and its physical relation to the Temple of God in Jerusalem — it was north of the Temple. Dr. Ernest Martin’s research on the location of the Temple led him to conclude that the traditional, so-called “Temple Mount” (the Harem esh-Sharif) is actually the remains of Fort Antonia.
 

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