Paul Ellis's Blog, page 32

Will Jesus return in 2019?

And so another year kicks off with a certain Christian magazines/websites making gloomy predictions about these last days. (I was going to provide some links here but it was depressing reading and I don’t wish to promote newspaper eschatology. If you’re interested, this stuff is not hard to find.) What do all these articles have in common? I mean, apart from peddling fear and anxiety about current events? Answer: they all believe Jesus is coming back soon. In other words, they don’t believe w...

Is Jesus Returning Soon?

Me: “I am coming to your house soon.” You: “Great! When?” Me: “I have no idea. I don’t even know what day.” You: “Um, okay.” Me: “You’ll have to wait a really long time.” You: “But you said you’d be here soon.” Me: “Soon, sure! But it could be centuries.” If I delivered mixed messages like this, you would think I’m unreliable. Untrustworthy, even. “Paul doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I wouldn’t believe anything he says.” Yet apparently this is how Jesus talks. According to some, Jesus...

Merry Christmas from the White House

I will not be sad to see the end of 2018. I don’t know about you, but this has been a year of low-level stress for us. Nothing major. Just a lot of rotten wood and asbestos in our house that had to go. And a roof, several walls, a few floors, and all the windows. We’ve had months of dust and disruption and we’re still living under a big, white wrap. At least it’ll be a white Christmas. Anyway, rant over. We are blessed to have a home, the kids are healthy, my wife loves me, and God is good. W...

You’ve got mail: Letters from Jesus, out today!

Last Friday I picked up a book containing the most important letters ever written. The letters had been penned by all sorts of historical figures. Yet the book contained no letters from Jesus. Not one. I can’t say I was surprised. Most people don’t know that Jesus sent letters. Do you know that the Son of God sent letters from heaven? The letters from Jesus may be the most important letters you ever read. How strange then, that many don’t know they exist, and those who do are afraid of them....

Who is an Overcomer?

The following is an extract from my book, Letters from Jesus, which is available for pre-order now on Kindle. — To him who overcomes… (Rev. 2:7b) Jesus makes a promise connected with overcoming at the end of each of his letters. This promise leads us to wonder, how do I overcome? And what happens if I don’t? Is Jesus saying I can lose my salvation if I fail the overcoming test? Some define overcoming as a list of things you must do. You have to prevail in life’s trials, disarm spiritual enemi...

Are these the Very Last Days?

They are if you want to get your name in my new book, Letters from Jesus. Aargh! Groan. Sorry for the click-bait title. But I have to ask you three questions: Did you know that after Jesus ascended to heaven, he uttered 2000 words that are recorded in scripture? Did you know that most of those words are in letters Christians don’t understand? Do you understand the seven letters from Jesus? I have never heard a sermon or read a book on the letters from Jesus that offers anything other than a m...

Get Your Name in Paul’s New Book!

My new book, Letters from Jesus: Finding Good News in Christ’s Letters to the Churches, comes out in ebook format in two weeks. And if you act fast, your name could be in it! What’s the book about? It’s about letters. From Jesus. Did you know that Jesus sent seven letters from heaven? Many people haven’t read his letters and those who have are terrified of them. Did Jesus really say he would vomit us out? Why is he holding a sword? His eyes are aflame – is Jesus angry with me? Will he remove...

The “I wills” of the New Covenant

The following is an extract from my forthcoming book, Letters from Jesus: Finding Good News in Christ’s Letters to the Churches. The ebook comes out next month; the paperback comes out next Easter. Enjoy! — The Philadelphians are often esteemed as a model church because Jesus never rebuked them—as though escaping censure was the high point of Christian living. (What a sad way to read these love letters from Jesus. “I got a letter from the Lord and he didn’t scold or threaten to kill me. I’m s...

The Lost Letters

My new book, Letters from Jesus, comes out in a few weeks. Here’s a taste… — In the creviced hills east of the Sea of Galilee, a kibbutznik stumbled on the neck of a partially buried earthen jar. Inside the jar was a roll of parchment. Experts at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem examined the parchment and found letters written by someone claiming to be the Son of God. The letters were dated to the first century, and all the evidence indicated that they had been written by Jesus Christ. A me...

Update: Paul’s New Book

For the past year and a half I have been writing a book on the gospel of Jesus. I’m happy to announce – it is finished! Great! What’s the new book called? Letters from Jesus: Finding Good News in Christ’s Letters to the Churches. Who picked the name? You did. Probably. A few weeks ago I ran a poll on Facebook and the majority of voters chose this title over The Gospel in Seven Letters. Why? Because Letters from Jesus “sounds more personal and intimate,” and this is exactly the vibe I’m trying...