Plucking the Eagle's Wings

The Eagle in Bible Prophecy

world without the Bible." Thomas Jefferson stated that, "The Bible makes the best people in the world." Andrew Jackson said, "That book sir (the Bible) is the rock on which our Republic rests." Abraham Lincoln said, "But for this book we could not know right from wrong. I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man." President Grant said, "The Bible is the anchor of our liberties" (Source: Wilmington's Guide to the Bible ). Many American Presidents have made clear and positive statements about the Bible. Ronald Reagan even declared a "Year of the Bible." John the Baptist called the religious and political leaders of his day a generation of vipers. He asked, "How will you escape the wrath that is coming" (Matthew 3:7)? John was the fundamentalist nightmare of his day. He refused to preach in the dignified, religious synagogues. His church was located in the barren wilderness of Judea. Talk about the wrong side of the tracks! Yet, multitudes came out of the Jordan River dripping wet and repentant. To the religious stiffs, John was a loose cannon. He challenged the religious and social divisions caused by pride. The wealthy despised the poor. The educated oppressed the uneducated. Israel's leaders were divided concerning John the Baptist. They asked if John was of God or of men (Matthew 21:25). This question caused heated debates. Before the debates cooled, a Nazarene named Jesus began ministering in Galilee and the controversy intensified. Because of Christ's bold message, He was soon unwelcome in some synagogues. This didn't deter His work. The crowds were too large for the synagogues anyway! Poor, common people flocked to Him. The scholars demanded to see His credentials asking, "Where did you go to school? Who gave you the authority to speak and preach" (Matthew 21:23)? Instead of accepting His miracles as proof of His authority, they built a case against Him. It was their authority versus his authority— us against them . The Pharisees (us) were very educated and very religious. The common people ( them ) were ridiculed for following Jesus. The Pharisees felt that the unschooled were too ignorant to make spiritual decisions for themselves, thinking that they needed guidance and enlightenment. Jesus was anything but ignorant. At twelve, His wisdom shocked the priest in the Temple (Luke 2:47-49). But Jesus wasn't educated in their schools by their professors in their doctrine! The arrogant attitude of the Pharisees lives on today. A dear 17