What was Jesus doing prior to his conception in Mary's womb? While we see the Father and the Holy Spirit actively engaged in human affairs across the pages of the Old Testament, the other member of the Trinity is foreshadowed in messianic prophecies but otherwise absent from the earth. Or is he? Jesus Before Bethlehem explores dozens of Old Testament appearances by a figure often called "the angel of the LORD." He not only speaks for God; he speaks as God. He appears as a man, a voice from heaven, a flame within a thorn bush, and a divine presence in a pillar of cloud and fire - all of which come to us as Christophanies, or appearances of the preincarnate Christ. Written for pastors and laypersons alike, this study is designed to show how the eternal Son of God has always taken a personal interest in those he created to be his imagers on earth.

This is the eyewitness account of 15-year-old James, son of Joseph bar Jacob, and the dangerous and heartrending choices his family must make in the days leading to Joseph's relationship with Mary, and the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

Every year, millions of people around the globe celebrate Christmas. But what does it all mean? Why did God choose a young virgin named Mary and a simple carpenter named Joseph to bring his only Son into the world? Why was the Son of God born in a lowly manger in a small town called Bethlehem? Who was this infant named Jesus, the One prophecies foretold would save the world from sin and suffering? And what does this nativity story mean for us today? Drawing from both the Old and New Testaments, noted pastor and theologian David Jeremiah provides answers to 25 of the most thought-provoking questions surrounding the most pivotal moment in human history--the birth of Jesus Christ.

Drawing on the biblical text and using the latest astronomical research, this book presents compelling evidence that the historic star of Bethlehem that accompanied Christ's birth was actually a great comet.

"For all ages, read-aloud ages 3-up"--P. [4] of cover.

The publication of the King James version of the Bible, translated between 1603 and 1611, coincided with an extraordinary flowering of English literature and is universally acknowledged as the greatest influence on English-language literature in history. Now, world-class literary writers introduce the book of the King James Bible in a series of beautifully designed, small-format volumes. The introducers' passionate, provocative, and personal engagements with the spirituality and the language of the text make the Bible come alive as a stunning work of literature and remind us of its overwhelming contemporary relevance.

Jesus Christ is arguably the most famous man who ever lived. His image adorns countless churches, icons, and paintings. He is the subject of millions of statues, sculptures, devotional objects and works of art. Everyone can conjure an image of Jesus: usually as a handsome, white man with flowing locks and pristine linen robes. But what did Jesus really look like? Is our popular image of Jesus overly westernized and untrue to historical reality? This question continues to fascinate. Leading Christian Origins scholar Joan E. Taylor surveys the historical evidence, and the prevalent image of Jesus in art and culture, to suggest an entirely different vision of this most famous of men. He may even have had short hair.

In the early books of the Old Testament, the mysterious "Angel of the Lord" repeatedly appears-visibly, audibly, even physically-to the Patriarchs, to Moses, to the Prophets. Who is this Angel? Exploring the biblical texts, the testimony of church history, and the insights of Systematic Theology, Matt Foreman and Doug Van Dorn argue that the answer is beyond doubt: the Angel of the Lord is a manifestation of God the Son. Even more, they argue that this Angel appears more often than people realize, because he appears under different titles, including: the Word, the Name, the Glory, the Face, the Right Hand, even the Son. They show that even some of the ancient Jews spoke of a Second Yahweh in the Old Testament. Christian theologians throughout history have taught this same understanding. Christians today need to be taught again how the Person of Jesus appears throughout the Bible and how he speaks to us today.

Yes, Christ was born in Bethlehem, but Christ’s existence didn’t begin with His coming to this earth as a baby in Bethlehem. The Apostle John emphasized this in the beginning of his gospel: “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:1-3, ESV). Jesus was present at the beginning of creation. He was and is our creator. His pre-existence is further affirmed by His many appearances documented throughout the Old Testament. John F. Walvoord, Christian theologian, pastor, and president of Dallas Theological Seminary believed and taught that “It is safe to assume that every visible manifestation of God in bodily form in the Old Testament is to be identified with the Lord Jesus Christ.” These pre-incarnate appearances of Jesus Christ are called Christohanies. In this book Dr. Raymond Horne digs deep into Scripture giving details of Christ’s pre-incarnate appearances to Abraham, Hagar, Jacob, Moses, Balaam, Joshua, Gideon and Sampson’s mother, lifting out life principles and practical applications for today.