Can you explain what “the first shall be last and the last shall be first” means and why is it that way? It doesn’t make sense to me.

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.”

Like you, I believe that not everyone has the same Spiritual Gifts, and that God gives them according to His perfect will for the common good. I also believe that our gifts don’t change, but that God sometimes gives us a gift we don’t have to fulfill a specific purpose. But I was reading I Corinthians 12 and found something that confused me. Verse 31 says,” But earnestly desire the greater gifts.” Also, I Cor. 14:1 says, “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”

When he said “desire the greater gifts” and “especially that you may prophesy” was he speaking to those who didn’t know what their gifts are? Or am I missing something? Thanks in advance for your help!

I was having a conversation with a friend who believes that people can lose their salvation. I believe in once saved, always saved. She used Saul as an example of someone who was saved, then lost their salvation. I know I still believe in OSAS, but how do I explain this. Does 1 Samuel 28:19 prove that Saul is saved, when Samuel says tomorrow he will be with him “Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”

I am currently living with a man (we are not married). He doesn’t see what is happening in the world the way I do and he does everything he can to prove me wrong about the End of Days approaching. I love this man but I don’t really want to marry him with the way his belief system is. I feel far away from the Lord sometimes when he is at home and I feel like Satan is working through him to discourage me. I feel such conviction for not being married which never bothered me until I began my walk with Jesus. I feel that the Holy Spirit is making me feel convicted and I just don’t know what to do. I don’t want to be left behind!!!

Please explain the meaning of this biblical verse: “Faith without works is dead”

I Just finished reading your articles on Spiritual Gifts. Please help me. I want to make sure I am not being mislead. Over the last five years my family has suffered many, many trials. I went to our church for help. But all they could do was say a prayer with me and agreed that we are dealing with more than the usual.

Recently, I was with a friend who knows of all we are dealing with and I said I was beginning to feel like we were cursed and my family was cursed. She suggested doing a corporate generational cleansing. I went with her to a meeting. They placed hands on me and prayed for repentance for me. I asked God to please give me discernment as this area I was not familiar with. They used scripture and went into generation sins, etc. and then prayed.

She prayed and said something that only God and myself knew (a prayer I had prayed to God quietly on my own for years) and just continued blessing me through Christ Jesus. When done she said it was the holy spirit leading her. Then a guy prayed and spoke in tongues – which I have never heard before.

I then received a call from one of my friend’s friends who invited me to join a prayer group that prayed together. I went and one of the members prayed in tongues from time to time, and someone else seemed to “see” things. This was uncomfortable for me and I do not know if it is God or not. Please help direct me if you can.

Thank you for making such an informative site, I am blessed to be able read it often! I love the revelation story and think this is a perfect first person account to share with children in a way they can understand it.

My question is: What is your thought about people who are Christians but don’t attend church on a regular basis? I have found that I spend much more time learning and therefore glorifying God by all my studies on the net but several preachers tell me I am wrong and should invest in going to church…when I did that I didn’t spend near as much time studying the bible or studying online. I feel as though we do not need to be in church to worship God. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!