I have always been a little confused concerning the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob had 12 sons, which became the 12 tribes. When land was given to the tribes, Levi received no land, and the 2 sons of Joseph were each given land making them 2 independent tribes. That makes 13 total.

After King Solomon’s death, God separated the nation. In 1 Kings, it says that God separated the nation into the northern 10 tribes (counting Joseph’s sons as separate tribes) and the tribe of Judah (10+1=11 tribes). Assuming that Levi was not included in this count because they received no land, that makes 12 tribes accounted for, but, since in the 10 northern tribes Joseph’s sons are counted as separate tribes, there should be a total of 13. The missing tribe appears to be Simeon, which was completely surrounded by the tribe of Judah. Can you explain why the tribes were counted like this?

How can believing human survivors of the Great Tribulation be allowed into the millennial kingdom as mortals when Paul states clearly in 1 Corinthians 15: 50 that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God?

In regards to a generation of years, God stated that no one would live longer than 120 years after the great flood. As far as I am aware some individuals have come to live very close to 120 years but not to 120. So does this mean that the average life span could be longer than 70-80?

I was reading a website and they are actively advocating disaster preparation. While this sounds reasonable, I and my daughter, sons and grandchildren do not have the means to prepare as indicated. By that I mean, I am elderly and just not young enough to lead the group in preparing. Some people are saying prepare for at least 7 years. That brings up the thought of such chaos, it sounds like the tribulation. What does the Bible say?

I wanted to ask you about whether or not we have specific demons with their own personalities that attack us on a regular basis. I am in the word daily and take my relationship with Jesus Christ very seriously. I am very careful about the media I subject myself to and have a genuine love for God’s discipline and refining nature. I do, however, have very specific attacks involving mental pictures that are terrible, and don’t seem to make any sense at all, but have a unique “stamp” on them. I’ve prayed and thought about these attacks a lot. Does this sound like a common theme… from a single demonic entity? If so, are there any specific ways to more permanently fend this thing off?

My friend says although in the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness it was legitimate when Satan offered the kingdoms of the world to Jesus, everything changed after the cross and because of Matthew 28:18 all the world, authority, and power was once again in Jesus ownership. I tried to explain that although this is true, the consummation of both our salvation, as well as His kingdom will occur in a future time – our bodies at our glorification and His kingdom at His second coming. Are there scriptures I can use to help him understand that Satan is still the god of this world and in control, as God allows him to be?

There are 4 riders of chapter 6 – although I wish to understand what the horses represent, I am more interested in who the riders are. I understand the first rider to be the Antichrist, but who are the other 3 riders, since “he” is used of all of them?

I am currently leading a study of the Torah with an effort to draw from Jewish Rabbinic teaching. I am finding the impact on translations into our language challenging. Genesis 1:2 (a) is a prime example. The first word of verse 2 is interpreted “And the earth” with the possibility of being “But the earth.” The second word is translated “was” while the Hebrew reads “she became.” Verse 2 when translated seems to read more like this given the Hebrew meanings: “But (or Now) the earth became chaos and vacant; and (now or but) darkness (was) over the abyss.” As you can see the meaning is much different than the English translations. While I want to be careful to remain faithful to the Word, it is a struggle, as I know there are those who translate in ways to justify their preconceptions. Can you give me any recommendations for a faithful translation of the Hebrew into English that is true to the Hebrew?

Re: Ishmaelites Or Midianites you wrote; “The Ishmaelites were descendants of Ishmael, a son of Abraham and Hagar (Genesis 16:1-16). The Midianites were descendants of Midian, a son of Abraham and Keturah, the wife he took after Sarah died (Genesis 25:1-2). Therefore the two groups were related and both being nomadic probably traveled together.”

I just finished reading this and was wondering if these two groups split at some point? If they did can you please point out where it is in the Bible? The reason I ask is because I was of the opinion that Islam came from the descendants of Ishmael the son of Hagar. Who would the descendants of the Midianities be or did the two groups become one?

I was reading 2 Cor. 12: 2-5 again where Paul speaks about a man that was caught up into the third heaven. I have always believed that Paul is speaking about himself although I had questions about why he would speak as if he is referring to the second person. My understand was recently challenged by an opinion of a friend who says Paul was perhaps more speaking about Stephen in Acts 7: 54-58 who when he was stoned saw heaven opening, Glory of God and Lord Jesus standing at the right hand of God. I have to be honest with you that this new view kept me thinking hence I ask for your view. Is Paul speaking about himself here or about Stephen perhaps? If he is speaking about himself then why he refers to himself as a second person?