I have recently been talking to an Atheist about the evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ. He of course does not believe Jesus ever existed. One of my arguments for Jesus’ existence is the founding of the Christian faith. I also argued that the gospels had been in circulation prior to Paul writing 1 Corinthians and is what Paul is referring to as what was given to him in verse 3.

My friend points out that there is a minor problem with what Paul says in those verses. 1 Cor. 15:5 says, ” And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve” My friend had this to say, ” There were only 11 disciples at the time. Judas was dead and his replacement, Matthias, had not been chosen until after the ascension (Acts 1:9-26). That there were only 11 disciples is clearly mentioned in the synoptics. If Paul truly had the gospels available to him before writing 1 Corinthians, then why would he make such an obvious mistake?”

In a recent Sunday School discussion, the teacher stated that she believed that everyone would have to stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment. I disagree. I believe it only applies to the unsaved who are resurrected at the end of the millennium. Please help me find the scriptures to explain correctly what happens to the church that has been raptured before the tribulation.

Thank you for your wonderful answers. I find them truly helpful and enlightening and I agree almost all the time. However, I saw one exception in an answer on sin. Quote: “This is one of the illustrations Jesus used in Matt. 5-6 to show us the need for a Savior, because it’s impossible for us always avoid doing things like this. And the same is true of an angry thought, or an envious one, or an untruthful one.”

Are we to somehow try to resist angry thoughts and is there such a thing as righteous anger? Doesn’t the scripture say ” be angry and don’t sin” and “don’t let the sun go down on your anger”? Did Jesus sin when he overturned the money changer’s tables? Was He angry?

When I read Rev. 22:11 I understand what the Lord means when He speaks of the unrighteous, but what is the difference between the righteous and the holy? The Lord imparted His righteousness to me when I believed and received his holy sacrifice for my sins. Since I am then robed in the righteousness of my Lord Jesus Christ, am I not also Holy? I desire to be both. ( I want to love what Jesus loves and hate what Jesus hates. ) I am trusting the Holy Spirit to form the character of Jesus in me. Thank you for sharing your godly knowledge and wisdom.

Your article on evil was terrific. It’s such a joy to learn from someone who thinks Biblically and is conversant with Scripture. But one thing you said got me curious. You talk about Lucifer’s original purpose being to guard the throne of God. What did it need guarding from? Couldn’t God guard it Himself?

In your article on life in the millennium you listed the seven dispensations and went from law to grace to kingdom, but grace ends at the Rapture, and the millennium doesn’t start for at least another seven years later. Seems to me there’s a missing dispensation. Law A, grace, law B, kingdom?

Since all Raptured Christians shall appear before the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account of things done during their lifetimes here, good or bad, I was wondering if you would expound more fully on a Scriptural passage found in 1st Corinthians, Chapter 3, Verse 15 (KJV).

I have been an avid reader of your website for a few years now & your wisdom and insight into prophecy is truly a God-given gift. In reading your answer to understanding the Bible, you stated that all believers have been given this ability, and faith is the key that unlocks it. I agree 100%. But what about non-believers? In 1 Corinthians 2:14 we read, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” Isn’t this a type of Catch-22 situation?

Again, thanks for so much wonderful help in understanding the Scriptures. I still don’t have a grasp on this yet. When did the church actually start? Was it when Jesus breathed on the disciples in John 20:22? Or was it at the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2? Weren’t the disciples born again in John 20:22, therefore starting the church, or is that a wrong assumption? We know that Pentecost is a celebration of the first fruits, and that those saved on the Day of Pentecost were the first fruits of the harvest, so does John 20:22 not qualify as the first fruits of the church?

I have a question regarding a calling I thought I had from the Lord but now I’m not as sure as I was. I am a gospel singer. In 2003 I really thought the Lord had called me to sing full time but it has not come to pass. Since that time some doors have opened for me. My favorite is a sports ministry. On Sunday mornings I am allowed to go to softball complexes and and am given a half hour to sing and speak. I am not a preacher but give my testimony, let them know that Jesus loves them and died for them and will save them if they will just believe on him no-matter who they are or what they have done. I usually quote John 3:16 and sometimes a couple more and then give them the opportunity to receive Christ. It has been amazing how many have come to the Lord through this ministry.

I have never made a charge for this ministry and don’t want to. I’m not saying it is wrong for others to charge, but it sickens me to even think about it. Some give but nowhere near enough. I write my own songs and have recorded a couple of Cd’s. I sell some of them but end up giving away more than I sell. I think I will just keep doing what I am doing because I know nothing is more important than winning souls to Christ. Would you go about it a different way if you were me? By the way I work the same job I have had for 26 years but the company is now about to go out of business. Will you please pray the Lord will take care of my family?