The Pastor on Sunday was teaching on Discipleship and how we can be better disciples for Christ, He was drawing from (an apparently popular book) I have never read or even heard of. The Pastor said that we needed to Love God with all of our Hearts, Minds and Souls, and that this is a commandment, which I agreed with. He went on to say in order to show God that we loved him we needed to follow and obey all of Jesus’ Commandments in the New Testament and he listed about 44 of them. He then said that if we do not follow these then we don’t love God and we aren’t saved. He even said that our salvation is based on a lot more than a little prayer we said when we accepted Christ.

I have been reading your series on a study of Revelation. In your commentary on chapter 5, you state “God’s law requires that a next of kin redeem that which a family member has lost.” Where in scripture is this stated as God’s law? I ask because what you have presented fills many gaps for me. I just want to be able to back that up with scripture since it is the foundation of the point you present.

Recently, I feel like I’ve lost my sense of purpose. Since I believe the Lord’s return is right around the corner, maintaining my current schedule seems pointless to me. I spend most of my time either working or studying – and it kills me to know that I could be spending this time with my family. I’ve talked to my wife about this, and she believes that I should continue doing what I have been doing, in case the end is not as close as I think. What’s your opinion?

John 5:17-18, says, “In His defense (for healing on the Sabbath) Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.’ At this point they tried to kill Him because He made Himself as high as God by calling God His own Father.”

When we pray, Jesus tells us to say “Our Father Who art in heaven” When we call God our Father, are we also making ourselves as high as God? Would you please explain it to me?

Regarding Rev. 3:11: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” My question is which crown is this referring to? And what can be done to take the crown away?

I have one question. I have read on the site that Revelation 21 takes place during the millennium and that the Church will live in the New Jerusalem (which will orbit the earth) while Israel and the tribulation saints live on the new heaven and earth. The thought is that Revelation 21:1 is referring to Isaiah 65:17.

The theory makes a lot of sense, but I noticed something. Revelation 21:4 says that “there shall be no more death”, while Isaiah 65:20 indicates that there will still be sin and death during the millennium. In fact, Revelation 21:4 seems to categorically say that death, sorrow, crying, and pain have been done away with forever, “for the former things are passed away”. But if there is still sin and death in Isaiah 65, then death, sorrow, crying, and pain haven’t been done away yet, for where there is sin and death there is sorrow and pain.

What are your thoughts on this? It is hard for me to match Revelation 21 to Isaiah 65; to me they seem to be discussing two different new earths – one that has death, and one that does not. Thank you very much for your site! I have immensely enjoyed it since I discovered it a few months ago and have learned a great deal. I am very thankful for your ministry.

I have been a born again Christian for about 7 months now and have taken to the scriptures like crazy reading and learning. One thing I have not been able to clearly understand in all my reading so far is why man is God’s greatest creation. I understand we were made in His image and he actually breathed life into us but how are we actually a more prized creation than say angels for example? They have free will just as we do from what I understand, yet God gave us (man) a way to find redemption where as the angels did not after rebellion. Can you clarify how we are a more prized creation than any other?

You have written: “Our unconfessed sins can’t make God change His mind about saving us, but it can and does hinder our current relationship with Him. And because God is faithful to the promise He made to His Son, forgiveness is ours just for the asking. Once we ask, we’re immediately purified from all unrighteousness; we again become as holy as God is, our relationship is restored to its former intimacy and we are blessed.” But if we’re already forgiven why do we have to ask again?

During a recent discussion about the Apostles Creed, the question came up as to why Jesus descended into hell before He rose from the dead. One of the proposed answers was that it was so that Jesus could take the keys to hell and death from Satan. However, we are unable to locate any scripture to support this proposed answer. We do find that in Revelation 1:18, He has the keys to hell and death. When and how did He get them?

When Christ was on the cross and he looked at the Roman soldiers who were killing him and said, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” Does this mean that God forgave them and they will be in heaven or did he just forgive them for those sins and not the ones afterward?