According2Sam Podcast

Cornerstone Church in San Antonio held its 45th Annual ‘Night to Honor Israel’ this week. Pastor John Hagee and his congregation have long been among the strongest supporters of the State of Israel in the United States. However, they are just one of many Christian churches in America that express such support. The term is being used to describe these Christians is “Christian Zionists.” This label, however, has become a source of division among American Christians. Christian Zionists believe that the Bible commands Christians to support Israel, while opponents argue that no such commandment exists. Since the October 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas and the ensuing war, this divide among American Christians has deepened, with a growing number now opposing Christian Zionism. What factors are contributing to this widening rift? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #355. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Numbers 19 outlines the ordinance of the Red Heifer, a purification ritual for those who become ritually unclean through contact with a dead body. According to the law, a blemish-free red heifer must be sacrificed outside the camp, and its ashes collected and mixed with fresh water to create the “water of purification.” A ritually clean person then sprinkles this water on the unclean individual on the third and seventh days, restoring their ritual purity. According to Jewish law, these ordinances must be performed on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem before construction of a new temple can begin. Are plans currently underway to carry out this ritual? If so, how far along are they, and how are these plans contributing to tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #354. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Eschatology is the study of events that are believed to bring about the end of human history, the world, or even the universe. There are many different interpretations of eschatology, and often multiple views exist within the same religious tradition. For example, Hinduism and Buddhism each have several different End Time narratives. In Islam, Shiite eschatology differs significantly from that of their Sunni counterparts. Even within Christianity, beliefs about the End Times vary widely—not just between Protestants and Catholics, but among different denominations and theological schools. A particularly divisive topic in Christian eschatology is the role of the modern State of Israel. Many Christians view it as a key component of prophetic fulfillment, while others see it as having no eschatological significance at all. Why is the modern State of Israel so controversial? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #353. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Just seven weeks after the October 7th attack, ‘The New York Times’ published an article titled, “Israel Knew Hamas’s Attack Plan More Than a Year Ago.” At the time, Israel was launching its ground invasion of Gaza, and the emotional weight of the attack was still fresh. The article revealed that the Israeli government had obtained a 40-page blueprint detailing Hamas’s attack strategy over a year in advance, but many argued it wasn’t the right moment to question the leadership, and that doing so could distract from the mission to eliminate Hamas and rescue the hostages. However, now that the war is over and all hostages have been released, those difficult questions can no longer be avoided. What exactly did the Israeli government know beforehand, and could the attack have been prevented? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #352. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Abrahamic faiths are monotheistic, meaning they involve the worship of only one deity. This sets them apart from the many polytheistic belief systems that have existed throughout history, going back to the ancient Sumerians, who worshipped a pantheon of gods known as the Anunnaki. For most ancient cultures, the idea of worshipping only one god was foreign—it simply didn’t make sense to limit themselves to a single deity. However, the God of Abraham commanded him, and his descendants, not to worship any other gods. The very first of the Ten Commandments is: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Despite this clear directive, the descendants of Abraham eventually turned to idol worship during the time of the Kingdom of Israel. What were the consequences of their idolatry? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #351. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]