Ask a Bible Teacher

The Number Seven And 2007

Published: December 28, 2006
Q

I was thinking about something and wondered if others were too. God uses the number seven throughout the bible to indicate completeness. For example, seven days of the week, seven colors of the rainbow, Noah’s Ark landed on the seventh month, seven deadly sins, and the Book of Revelation is full of the number seven.

Question: Complete, finished, do you think this could be the year? Would it not be so wonderful to see the return of the Lord this year!!!!! In any case, I will be watching for the Lord to return and also to see what unfolds this coming year. Read this morning that Saddam will be finished this coming year.


The EU And The 7 Year Treaty

Published: December 28, 2006
Q

I live in the U.K. and was recently listening to a program on the God channels.

The topic under discussion was end time prophecies.

I nearly fell out of my chair when the guest commented that within the European Community, there is a “select” group of ten nations, and that this number would never be increased. He also stated that some sort of military agreement had been signed by Israel and this group of 10 nations, commencing in 2007.

I realize that there is danger in developing a whole scenario of prophecy around isolated events, but if it’s true, we’d better fasten our seat belts.

Do you have any information regarding this group of 10 and this supposed military alliance?

In some ways, it is logical that Satan and the Antichrist would not commit to such things with a great fanfare, thus alerting believers to the gathering storm clouds!


Burning Ezekiel’s Weapons

Published: December 27, 2006
Q

I enjoy your commentary almost daily. Thanks for the great job you do.

I am writing to ask about the time interval between the Gog and Magog war and the tribulation. In Ezekiel 39 : 9 – 15, we see that following this war, Israel waits 7 months ( v. 14 ) , then takes 7 months to bury the dead ( v. 12 ). Also, the war materials are burned for 7 years. Assuming that the burning takes place at least starting 7 months after the war ( to allow the battlefield to cool down ), and if the burning is done continuously, would it not need to start at least 3 1/2 years before the tribulation ? I know that when the abomination of desolation happens mid – trib, Israel is told to flee to the wilderness. They must conclude the burning of war materials by then. It is less likely that they would wait until the second coming to start the burning.

Thanks for your analysis,


75 Prerequisites

Published: December 24, 2006
Q

I have heard that in the late 1800s, when there was considerable expectation among Christians that the Second Coming was nigh, a group of Bible scholars compiled a list of 75 prerequisites that had to be in place before the Second coming could occur. For example, there had to be a nation or group of nations that could send an army of 200,000,000 across the Euphrates River toward the nation of Israel. As of the late 1800s, only about 1/2 those prerequisites were in place. But now, all but two are in place. The last two are the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and the birth of a 10-nation confederacy — the resurrected Roman Empire.

Can you confirm this story? If so, can you provide a reference for further reading on the subject?

Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this topic.


One God Or Two?

Published: December 22, 2006
Q

Greetings in the name of the Lord!

I read with great expectation your answers to questions posed by your readers. Your site has been quite a resource and I want to thank you for allowing the Lord to use you this way.

My question stems from a recent conversation I had with a Jewish Uncle who asked me to reconcile Deut. 6:4 “. . .the Lord is One” with our worship and praise of Jesus. I responded by: 1) asking if a messiah does appear for them wouldn’t they worship and praise him as well. 2) Quoting Genesis 1:26 and asked who is “us” and “our”. 3) When Jesus taught to us to pray he started by saying “Our Father in Heaven”. What bothers me is that I had difficulty referring to Old Testament passages to support my Uncle’s supposition of “polytheism”. Can you point me in the right direction?


Binding And Claiming

Published: December 21, 2006
Q

Concerning people who claim healing in Jesus’ name, or bind things in Jesus’ name. I asked a woman who admitted she attends a charismatic church about why she prays this way, binding and claiming and so forth. She took me to Matthew 16:19 telling me that Jesus has given us the power to do these things. I didn’t argue with her but noted how Jesus gave these powers to Peter. As I read and interpret what’s going on, Jesus is alluding to the coming church and the Spirit as shown in Acts 2. If I am correct, Peter is the only one that is given these gifts for a specific reason, and that was to be a framework for the beginning of the church. Am I correct in understanding this passage of scripture? God bless you and yours.


As A Thief

Published: December 21, 2006
Q

Please can you clear a question for me? A verse in the bible says if therefore though shalt not watch I will come on thee as a thief ,and thou shalt not know what hour I will come.

Is that for the rapture?? Because when Jesus comes the 2nd Time it says all eyes will see him.

Thank you. I like your site very much, and I’m learning a lot from your answers.


The Millennium

Published: December 20, 2006
Q

What is the millennium, is it the year 2000 or what year is it?


Molested As A Child

Published: December 20, 2006
Q

I was molested as a child by older male cousins. I never told anyone until recently what happened. But, the whole situation has scarred me in a way that makes it hard for me to rejoice in being a female. That being said, since that point in my life I have found myself attracted to women but only if I imagine myself as a man with the control. I don’t know if this is a true attraction or if it is a result of me wanting to feel “in control”. And, what makes it even harder is that I am a follower of Christ. I know Him and desire to follow Him with all my might- but this sin keeps coming up and I feel like I’m constantly questioning if I die will God consider me living in un-repentant sin. And, my best friend and I have have tried working through this (I wear pink and do my hair and paint my nails now) and I have made some strides, I was just wondering if there is a way out of this and back into “normal” life.

Thank you so much for allowing God to speak through you to so many wondering and wandering souls.


The Pope And Islam

Published: December 16, 2006
Q

Because during the tribulation the people left on the earth will be involved in a one world religion, do you believe the news story about the Pope while in Turkey praying towards Mecca with the Muslims gives validly to their religion and is an indication how easy it will be to convince people to follow a one world religion? Is there any were else in the Bible that speaks of a one world religion besides Revelation 17?