The New Testament reveals many truths about the intermediate state -- the time between physical death and future resurrection. Further, it shows a seamless transition from the intermediate state to the eternal state as the intersection between heaven and earth is restored, with God bringing down his throne to rest among the redeemed.

Despite an extended warning that runs from Isaiah 2:6 - 4:1, the prophet is clear that God's glorious kingdom overshadows both the rebellion of his people and the necessary rebuke of divine judgment. The Lord's judgment has the ultimate purpose of purifying his people, not destroying them.

In part two of our look at UFOs and aliens, we define terms and further explore our culture's modern fascination with alleged extraterrestrials. For example, we see that the terms Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) has come to replace UFO. We identify six types of close encounters. And we examine natural explanations for 95 percent of reported UAPs. It's the remaining 5 percent we should worry about.

Most of the recorded work of holy angels is performed in heaven, where angels serve God with praise and worship (Ps. 148:2; Rev. 5:11-12). At the same time, angels carry out important duties on earth, with their work falling into eight broad categories.

Isaiah's reference to "the Branch of the LORD" (Isa. 4:2) foreshadows the coming Messiah, who brings marvelous fertility to the land and reverses the dire situation described in previous chapters. The Lord is going to replace Judah's proud leaders with the Branch, a "beautiful and glorious" monarch who takes away sin and restores the land's abundance. This Branch is of David's lineage, yet in an unexplained way, he bears divine ancestry.

Jeffrey Maskrod is the newest member of the Missouri Baptist Apologetics Network. He's a lay leader at River Bluff Fellowship in Ozark, Mo. Learn more about Jeffrey and his apologetics ministry.

In Psalm 139, David marvels at the all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere-present attributes of God. Among the psalmist's amazements are these words: "All my days were written in your book." What does this have to do with a biblical understanding of the book of life?

First Baptist Church of Camdenton is hosting a Creation Ministries Conference March 21-22. Dr. Jonathan Sarfati will address three topics: Jurassic Reality: Dinosaurs & the Most-asked Questions; Design, Deluge & Dilemma; and Six Days ... Really? The conference is open to the public and free of charge.

Daniel's final recorded vision (Dan. 10-12) features the appearance of a "man dressed in linen." It's now the third year of King Cyrus's rule, and Daniel is about 85 years old. He enters an extended time of prayer and fasting as he mourns, perhaps because the Samaritans are hampering work on the temple in Jerusalem. As he stands on the banks of the Tigris River, Daniel enters what is clearly a visionary state, and a man dressed in linen enters the story.

The Book of Life: What the Bible Says About God's Registry of the Redeemed addresses key questions about this fascinating book: What is the book of life? Why does it exist? Whose names are written there? Once entered, can names be erased? And how can I know if my name is recorded there? Written for pastors and laypersons alike, this resource is designed for personal or group study.