Ask a Bible Teacher

Women’s Head Covering

Published: June 9, 2007
Q

Got another sticky one and hoping you can help. I am teaching on 1 Cor 11:3-17 and Paul’s Teaching that women should pray and prophesy only with their heads covered. It’s kinda a big elephant in the room. You helped me with the parable of the Talents. What do you teach on this?


What About NDE’s?

Published: June 5, 2007
Q

How do you feel about NDE’s? Do you feel that they are legit heavenly experiences and that we should listen to the people who have had them and accept their stories as real? Do you feel that God would let some people “die” in order to show them heaven, then send them back?

What about NDE’s that people in India have? They claim to see their gods. What does all this mean? Any insight would be greatly appreciated as I have been fascinated by this topic for some time and I am often confused and unsure about what I am reading.


Spouse Or Stranger?

Published: June 4, 2007
Q

I have severely abused the servers getting everything I can get my mouse on for reading at work, and I thank you for your ministry. It has transformed my spiritual life in the largest rejuvenation since my Salvation experience. Literally every day I realize something new that contradicts bad theology and beliefs about my walk with God.

I read in your Ask A Bible Teacher column about marriage in heaven and the knowledge greatly distressed me. Please explain what elderly couples like my grandparents who were married fifty-odd years and totally devoted to each other (Grandma still keeps track of her wedding anniversaries) do if the spouse that left first won’t remember them or be married to them in some aspect in the New Jerusalem.

In my personal life I love my wife unconditionally and have a very hard time reconciling that we won’t be married in any respect in Heaven. I can understand women with four husbands or horrible marriages not wanting to see these guys in heaven, but what about happily married couples? Will I go from “till death do you part” to “Hello, I’m your next door neighbor!”? Grandmother tells me what she misses Grandpa and wants to be wherever he is, and a driving goal of mine is to be reunited with all of my saved loved ones in the Rapture.

In a nutshell will happily married couples who wait in faith to be reunited in heaven be subsequently broken up upon “putting on the incorruptible”? Will the family unit survive the Rapture? I love my wife and I don’t want her to become a stranger to me.


Sex In The Congregation

Published: June 1, 2007
Q

I have been coming to this sight for a few months and I have been helped by your advice on so many issues that I have had for years. I feel that you can give me some biblical help on my present situation.

I am a member of a bible teaching church and I am in turmoil about how to forgive a person who has hurt me very much. I was dating a man who invited me to church with him. We were not in a committed relationship but we were intimate with each other. I wanted more and he stated that he was waiting on God to lead him to a decision like marriage. I loved him in a way that I haven’t loved before and I felt that he was my husband but he stated that he wasn’t ready and we argued a lot.

During one of our arguments he stated that we should stop seeing each other because he didn’t feel the same way that I did. My feelings were hurt so I agreed with him. We only saw each other at church for a couple of weeks and then we got back together intimately.

After the reunion I found out that a member of the church, who was invited by me, and who is my nephew’s girlfriend and the mother of his children went to his house one night and they had sex. This happened after we agreed to end our relationship.

After we reunited she tried to have sex with him again but she failed. When I found out I was very upset and I stopped talking to both of them and there was conflict at the church. After all of this he and I were married and this woman is still a member of the church. She is not married to my nephew and they are now expecting their third child.

Finally, (smile) how do I forgive? I can only see her as a snake and I want to love her and see her as a fellow believer. How do I get past her hurting me and forgive. I am the pastor’s daughter-in-law and my husband is a faithful member of this church and I have been in all types of denominations of Christian churches and this is the only one that teaches the word of God according to the word and not their own personal beliefs. I don’t want to leave, but how do I forgive so that I can stay. Please help me.


Rapture, Yes Or No? Follow Up

Published: May 30, 2007
Q

God bless, love your site. Quick question: In “Rapture, Yes or No?”, you said Jesus does not teach on the rapture. Wouldn’t John 14:1-4 qualify as Jesus indirectly teaching the Rapture? I have noticed this particular reference being left out of many pretrib rapture defenses. In my opinion, this reference directly ties the Gospel account to the Pauline letters. Appreciate your insight.


Are Mormons Really Saved? Follow Up

Published: May 30, 2007
Q

I love reading your articles. But regarding your answer to the question “Are Mormons really saved?” I would have to disagree. Besides the fact that Mormons believe in grace + works, they also have the wrong Jesus. They believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate distinct beings and that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers, along with everyone of us! From 1 John, it seems that if you have the wrong understanding of Jesus, you do not have the Father either.


Rapture, Yes Or No?

Published: May 29, 2007
Q

My question concerns the Rapture and a show called “Beyond Today” that had a guest pastor from the United Church of God who stated there is no Scriptural validity to the Rapture. I didn’t watch the whole show but basicly he said the Bible doesn’t teach the Rapture that Jesus didn’t teach it or the Apostles and that the idea started in the 1800’s. I’m just wondering is there a strong opposition in the church that is saying we shouldn’t be believing in the Rapture?


490 Year Cycles?

Published: May 27, 2007
Q

I have heard people mention that there are cycles of 490 years in the Bible and that at the beginning of each cycle something significant happens, and that the new cycle falls in 2007. Can you shed some Biblical light and perspective on this? Thank you so much, as always.


Questions On Revelation 21-22

Published: May 26, 2007
Q

I was reading a comment about Revelation 21-22 and really want to know who He is talking to. Revelation, chapters 21 and 22 we see the warnings and the prophecies:

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and ever one who loves and practices falsehood.”

If the church is raptured who are those being addressed? Does this mean that people who have made a commitment to Christ but are still struggling with sin are to wash their robes (repent) or they will be left behind at the rapture?

I do not know that I will ever quit struggling with salvation issues until I see the Lord face to face.


The Rebuilt Temple

Published: May 26, 2007
Q

I read that there is a lot of big talk about the a temple being rebuilt in Israel and supposedly this is a very big deal to Biblical Prophecy. I just don’t know why it’s such a big deal.

I was wondering if you can answer my question: What does the Temple being rebuilt have to do with the end times prophecy? And will the rapture come before it is built or after? And how long do you think before the Abomination of Desolation, a.k.a. Anti-Christ will declare his divinity?