While discussing our marriage and her guy friends, my girlfriend said she sees nothing wrong with maintaining relationships with her ex boyfriends after we’re married. She admits to having sex with them in the past, but says they are just friends now and wants to keep them around as such. In fact she insists upon it.

I objected strongly and have now alienated her. I’m completely appalled because she is a woman I thought for sure I would marry.

She says God put these men into her life and has forgiven her for choosing the wrong path with them. Therefore, she is not willing to let go of the relationships. Is she wrong? Or am I wrong to insist she end them?

I have read many articles stating that all who have died remain in the grave until the second coming. What about the transfiguration where Moses and Elijah were present? The rich man and Lazarus has also been discounted as some kind of parable. I have always believed “absent from body present with the Lord.” Your thoughts?

Thank you so very much for your answers and help in clarifying different passages in Scripture. God has given you such keen insight, thank you for sharing with us.

I have a question about the garden of Eden. Where did it go? Was it taken to Heaven, or protected for awhile and then destroyed? Was it really located in the area they now call the Fertile Crescent?

I’m just wondering, why did God create mosquitoes if they’re such an annoying insect? Is the mosquito one of God’s implements for spreading plagues back then, or not? I’m just curious, that’s all. Thanks!

I’ve read several of your responses and it seems that you are implying that it’s like a search to find your spiritual gift. Yet it seems that in the Bible people demonstrated their gift immediately by prophesying, speaking in tongues, etc. I find it odd that so many born again Christians after years have never “discovered” their gift. A “gift” is given by one and received by another. You don’t usually have to spend time searching for a gift that you have supposedly received already.

I’ve got a question. Recently I have talked to people who say the trinity doesn’t exist. I believe in the trinity, however I’m trying to find scripture which explains it and backs it up. Can you help?

For the record, I do believe in the Rapture. I have read your article on “7 things you should know” and in there you said that the Rapture was a “secret” teaching.

My question is how do you explain that to a person that doesn’t believe in the rapture? This “secret teaching” sounds a bit like an influence from Gnosticism…. I mean, why would Jesus NOT teach something so GREAT and WONDERFUL himself and in open for everyone to know….? It doesn’t make sense if you think about it.

The verses in Matthew that are mostly used in argument for the rapture can be turned into an argument for post-trib or the second coming of Jesus, because if you read it, you can choose which way you want to interpret it…either for the rapture or for the second coming… There is not enough proof of the pre-trib rapture in it for most people… and you can’t assume things that you want to believe are true about the Bible.. it is either right or wrong.. no grey area.

Please help me answer this question on “why didn’t Jesus Himself teach about the rapture, OPENLY.”

Our son-in-law who attends a Baptist Church said his Sunday School teacher is going to talk about the “gifts.” He believes that they were given to the early church but are not for use today.

What is a good way to respond to this teaching?

Thanks for your help and consistently excellent articles.

I know that the declaration of some animals as unclean by God was to prevent disease. Is it also possible that certain animals were listed an abomination because Satan broke laws, unknown to us, when forming these creatures? Or maybe after the Flood, he continued his genetics program and the unclean animals lost their perfect assimilation of genes and therefore were declared unclean. Why do you feel certain animals were listed as unclean, or even worse, an abomination?

I’m wondering what you have to say about Catholics “praying” to Mary or other saints. I understand that the first commandment tells us to have no other gods, but Catholics seem to believe they’re not praying to Mary or the other saints, but somehow praying to God through them.

This also brings another question to mind of praying for someone after they’ve died. Is there anyplace in the bible that speaks to this?

Thanks so much for your thoughtful answer.