Re: Judge Not That Ye Be Not Judged. My study bible states : “Matt 7:3-5 -Jesus does not forbid all evaluation or even judgment of others. What Jesus does rule out is pride that views one’s self as better than others.”

I would like to know what exactly is the blessed hope? I always believed that it is the appearing of Jesus Christ as the verse which mentions the blessed hope says further in. Today, as we spoke via e-mail of the Rapture, someone told me that our blessed hope is not the Rapture, but that it is our redemption. This confused me. Can you please explain what it is?

The pastor of our church has in the past taught regularly on tithing and giving, but recently he has introduced the need for a Terumah offering, which he says we must do to be truly blessed the way God wants us to be. He teaches that the Terumah offering is a further 2.5% of our gross income and is paid directly to him for his personal use. I have not heard of this before and it troubles me. Can you shed some light please.

I bought your book (7 Things You Have to Know to Understand End Times Prophecy) and greatly enjoyed it. I was a post Tribulation believer, but I am starting to change my mind. My question is, what will happen right after the Rapture if it is indeed before the Tribulation? Won’t everyone see that by the disappearance of millions of people all of a sudden that the Bible is right and therefore have a Bible believing world? I was thinking that since we won’t have our resurrected bodies til the 2nd Coming that perhaps after the Rapture our spirits will go to be with the Lord and our bodies will be left on the earth. Thus appearing to the people left behind that millions of people have “died” instead of disappeared.

Matthew 7:21-23 reads” Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Does this scenario take place at the great white throne judgement?

Re: the third heaven of 2 Cor. 12:2. Are there Biblical references to the first and second heaven? What are your thoughts on the heavens?

Can a Christian die spiritually? Romans 8:5 says if anyone lives according to the flesh, they will die, and James 1:15 says that when sin is matured, it brings forth death.

Whenever I express my concern about our current government, well meaning friends say that we are to pray for those in authority citing 1 Timothy 2:1-3. Seeing all that I believe is going wrong, I have great difficulty praying for such people. Are my friends using these verses correctly?

I don’t belong to a local church because of those I’ve visited, none really preach the word and seem more interested in programs that benefit themselves than helping the poor. Does God really want us to find a local church (even if we don’t believe they’re acting according to Biblical principles) and tithe there? Or can I keep doing what I’m doing, giving and tithing to various ministries as He leads?

In Acts 16 we read of Paul telling the jailer to “believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved — you and your household.” The jailer listens, acts on what he hears (by washing all their wounds and setting a meal before them), and his whole house is saved. However, we don’t read of other members of his household giving their testimony, their story of being swept away in God’s grace, and understanding their need of Him for salvation. I know God is the same always. I know He isn’t going to change his method of salvation. But I find it difficult to defend passages that seem to contradict one another.