Roger Meyer

Shepherds of old carried a rod and a staff, two important tools of their trade. For the shepherd, a rod was a stick or club that could be used offensively or defensively against a threat to himself or his flock. It was also used for discipline and counting, especially to determine the tithe of the increase of a flock (Leviticus 27:32). The shepherd’s staff was a longer and thinner stick with a hook on one end, used for guiding the flock and for capturing or saving sheep.

What is the “spirit of slumber”? Do you have it? Is it good or bad? If it is bad, how do you get rid of it?

The phrase “spirit of slumber” is found in Romans 11:8 (King James Version). The Apostle Paul wrote of his sorrow and grief because the great majority of his people, the Israelites, had stumbled at the stumbling stone—Jesus Christ, whom they did not accept (Romans 9–11). Paul explained that this was because they had not yet submitted to the righteousness of God and God had given them “the spirit of slumber” or “a spirit of stupor.”

You may have heard the term “post-Christian.” What does it mean, and what are the implications—or consequences—of this modern phenomenon?

Some people think of Bible prophecies as millennia-old warnings for the ancient people of Israel, but they were actually intended for a far wider audience—including Judah, many Gentile nations, and even we who are alive today. The ancient prophets, Christ’s apostles, and even Jesus Christ Himself gave prophecies about the end times, but few have heeded their warnings. The New Testament epistle of Jude, though one of the shortest books in the entire Bible, contains a very important prophetic message.